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Training

TAFE preparatory courses for interpreters and bilingual workers

In 2004 and 2005, the Victorian Government assisted the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE to develop courses to prepare students for interpreter training or to take up employment as bilingual workers.

Over 70 students have enrolled in these courses. Many of the students were new arrivals under the Humanitarian Program, and the courses were designed to help address the severe shortage of interpreters and bilingual workers in the emerging, mainly African, languages spoken by this group.

Interpreter awareness training

In 2005, we trained workers in Community Health Centres, hospitals and those working in the mental health system to become more aware of the need to use interpreters and how to most effectively use their services. We also helped the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, Rural Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade to develop policies for using interpreting and translating services.

A multimedia interpreter awareness training package for teachers was launched in August 2005, and we are developing similar packages for the Victorian Police and for workers in the health system.

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