AUSIT QLD Branch Presents

What is Solidarity? A Way Forward in a Changing World

Solidarity is more than just lending a hand—it’s a professional lifeline. Rooted in the AUSIT Code of Ethics, it’s also the key to navigating an increasingly changing landscape.

Join us for a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion that redefines what solidarity means for translators and interpreters today.

What to expect:

Unpack the layers of ‘solidarity’—from professional associations and collective bargaining to digital networks and media voices. Discover how this powerful concept can foster connection, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose in a profession often marked by solitude.

Earn PD points for Ethics

This event counts toward your required professional development in the Ethics category for NAATI recertification—an excellent opportunity to grow professionally while reflecting on the values that bind us.

Stay for networking

After the panel, stick around to connect with colleagues over food and drinks available for purchase. Strengthening our community doesn't stop at theory—real solidarity grows in conversation, support, and shared experience.

What is Solidarity? A Way Forward in a Changing World

A panel discussion featuring:

Moderated by interpreter, translator and educator Patricia Argüello de Avila

Our Panel Members

Carl Gene Fordham

Carl Gene Fordham specialises in court interpreting (Mandarin–English) and forensic translation (Chinese>English). He also serves as AUSIT’s National President and teaches T&I part time at the University of Queensland.

Associate Professor Renee Zahnow

Renee Zahnow is a Associate Professor at the University of Queensland. She is an internationally recognised expert in community social processes and survey methodologies and the winner of the Australian Social Science Academy Paul Bourke Award. Her work focuses on everyday places, people, and routine mobility associated with opportunities for pro-social and deviant encounters. Renee is particularly interested in the application of theory and evidence to achieve community resilience, social cohesion and individual wellbeing.

Brett Milton

Brett has been a working Auslan-English interpreter for over 25 years and is a proud union member and workplace delegate. Brett and his colleagues used organised solidarity to force their multinational employer to negotiate a new agreement.

Norma Augent

Norma Haydée Augent, originally from Rosario, Argentina, is Convenor of the Latin American Group, 4EB Community Radio. She holds a Specialised Bachelor of Arts as well as qualifications in Surgical Instrumentation and Journalism. Norma was Secretary of the Argentine-Polish Press Association between 1998 and 2015, and has contributed to numerous press publications over the years. She worked as a radio journalist at FM2 Palermo from 2003 to 2015 and was Professor of Radio Studies at the Universidad Austral de Buenos Aires from 2013 to 2015.

Moderator: Patricia Argüello de Avila

Patricia is an international conference and community Spanish to English interpreter, translator, and accredited educator, originally from El Salvador. She holds a Diploma of Legal Studies and has authored two books: a Trainer's Manual and Working Books focused on interpreting in health settings. Patricia is also an associate member of the Queensland Law Society. She is chair of the Australian Institute for Interpreters and Translators Advocacy Committee.

Venue

BrewDog Fortitude Valley
235 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Google Maps

BrewDog Fortitude Valley is easily accessible by public transport: Train (Fortitude Valley station) and Bus (all Wickham Street, Brunswick Street and Warner Street lines).

Food and drink is available to purchase at the bar. For more details visit  https://drink.brewdog.com/au/brisbane-fortitude-valley

PD Logbook

Intermediate PD. Please  consult the NAATI Recertification Catalogue to allocate the relevant PD Points. Some activities can be included under different categories, so please choose the most appropriate category for your recertification purposes.

Certificates and Recordings
Certificates for PD purposes will be issued to confirmed attendees only and may take up to two weeks to be sent out. This event will not be recorded.

		Wednesday 21 May 2025 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm AEST
		BrewDog Fortitude Valley 235 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
		AUSIT Members - $30 ASLITA/NZSTI/FIT-ITF members - $30 AUSIT Students - $15 Non-Members - $90
		Register HERE

Not a member of AUSIT? Join us to benefit from discounted member fees and future opportunities! When you sign up as an AUSIT Member you will pay lower fees for our Professional Development workshops and social events - Click HERE to find out more.

NSW Branch presents In the Loop: Hands-On Training with Portable Equipment for Simultaneous Interpreting Friday, 23 May 2025 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm AEST NAATI Office, Sydney NSW 2000

  ***  Complete your EOI before 12 May to be considered  ***  

  Places are limited so be quick!  

Join the NSW Branch for an onsite practical workshop focusing on the use of portable equipment to support simultaneous interpreting in courtrooms or other appropriate settings.

Branch member Silvia Martinez, Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter and a regular user of this equipment in court, will demonstrate use and share tips on what’s worked for her. Participants will have the opportunity to try the equipment and practise simultaneous interpreting in language-specific groups.

Places are limited, so we ask colleagues who are certain they can attend on the day to express their interest by Monday 12 May. Participants will be selected by Thursday 15 May on the basis of:

1. Ability to interpret in the simultaneous mode (essential); and

2. Language grouping, so that we can get the most out of the practice session.

AUSIT members will be prioritised. Please submit your EOI to participate here.

Our thanks to NAATI NSW for being our hosts and to Multicultural NSW Language Services for lending us the equipment which participants will be using to practise.

Our Presenter - Silvia Martinez

Silvia is a highly experienced interpreter and translator, with a strong professional focus on legal and conference interpreting. She regularly serves as a court-appointed interpreter within the NSW criminal justice system through Multicultural NSW, and also works extensively with private clients. In addition to her interpreting practice, she is actively involved in the training and mentoring of new interpreters entering the legal field.

Silvia is among the first interpreters in Australia to receive the Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter credential and is passionate about ensuring the highest standards of interpreting in the legal system. As a conference interpreter, she enjoys the challenge of working in highly specialised settings, including over a decade of experience interpreting within the Antarctic Treaty framework.

Workshop recording and PD Certificates
Intermediate PD: Experienced practitioners with some existing SI experience.

This event is eligible for PD points according to the NAATI recertification catalogue.

This is a live event and will not be recorded. PD Certificates will only be distributed to registrants confirmed in attendance (within 2 weeks, post-event).

Kind regards
NSW Branch Committee

		23 May, 2025 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm AEST
		NAATI NSW Office - Suite 2, Level 6/570 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
		AUSIT Members - $50 Non-Members  - $150
		Complete your EOI to participate HERE

Not a member of AUSIT? Join us to benefit from discounted member fees and future opportunities! When you sign up as an AUSIT Member you will pay lower fees for our Professional Development workshops and social events - Click HERE to find out more.

Monthly Networking Event - After-Work Drink Victoria Branch In-person Event Thursday 29 May 2025 5.30 PM AEST onwards

Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025

Time: 5:30 PM AEST onwards

Venue: The Bank on Collins - Ground Floor, 394 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

We've arranged our usual high top tables to the left of the bar. Keep an eye out for the AUSIT signs!

All T&I practitioners, students, educators, LSP representatives, language lovers, friends and family across Victoria (and interstate or overseas, if in town!) are most welcome and encouraged to join us. Feel free to invite non-members to come and meet everyone.

Can't wait to see you all!

Please register here.

For inquiries, please email vic@ausit.org

Please note that all food and beverages consumed at the venue are at participants' own expense.

Public Transport Information
By train: The venue is within 10 minutes walk from Flinders Street Station. 
By tram: You may alight at either Williams/Collins Street or Elizabeth/Collins St and walk up one block.

Parking Information
The venue does not offer parking spaces. However, there are street parking bays and paid parking arrangement available.

You may wish to consider a suitable parking arrangement within the CBD.

PD Logbook
As this is a networking event, it is eligible for PD points according to the NAATI recertification catalogue category 1.6. Please utilise your registration confirmation email to claim participation as no PD Certificates will be issued.

Kind regards
VIC Branch Committee

		Thursday 29 May 2025 5.30pm AEST onwards
		The Bank on Collins - Ground Floor, 394 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000
		AUSIT Members - FREE Non-Members  - FREE
		Register HERE

Not a member of AUSIT? Join us to benefit from discounted member fees and future opportunities! When you sign up as an AUSIT Member you will pay lower fees for our Professional Development workshops and social events - Click HERE to find out more.

NSW Branch invites you to join our Face-to-Face Networking Event! The 2nd Thursday of every month 6.00pm AEST onwards Hotel Regent Sydney

Join AUSIT NSW for a Face-to-Face Networking Event!

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 PM AEST

Venue: Hotel Regent Sydney (next to Redfern Train Station)

Upcoming dates:

• 12 June 2025
• 10 July 2025
• 14 August 2025
• 11 September 2025

Looking to connect with fellow translators and interpreters in a relaxed setting? Join us for our AUSIT NSW Networking Event, from 6-8pm at Hotel Regent Sydney, conveniently located next to Redfern Train Station.

This monthly casual gathering is a great opportunity to meet industry peers, exchange experiences, and network with fellow professionals. Each event will be hosted by a NSW branch committee member, with occasional special guests—seasoned professionals ready to share their insights.

Whether you’re a long-term AUSIT member, new member, student, or simply curious about the translation and interpreting industry, you’re welcome to join us. Come along, grab a drink, and be part of our growing community! Please note that all food and beverage consumed at the venue are at participants' own expense.

We encourage you to register in advance to help us with planning. See you there!

For inquiries, please email nsw@ausit.org

PD Logbook
As this is a networking event, it is eligible for PD points according to the NAATI recertification catalogue category 1.6. Please utilise your registration confirmation email to claim participation as no PD Certificates will be issued.

Kind regards
NSW Branch Committee

		2nd Thursday of the month 6.00 pm AEST onwards
		Hotel Regent Sydney, 56 Regent Street, Redfern
		AUSIT Members - FREE Non-Members  - FREE
		Register HERE

Not a member of AUSIT? Join us to benefit from discounted member fees and future opportunities! When you sign up as an AUSIT Member you will pay lower fees for our Professional Development workshops and social events - Click HERE to find out more.

AUSIT NAT Presents Simultaneous Interpreting in Community Settings: Trends, Challenges & Skill-Building  Webinar Via Zoom Wednesday 18 June 2025 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm AEST

As the interpreting profession continues to evolve, simultaneous interpreting is increasingly being introduced into community-focused settings that have traditionally relied on consecutive modes. This follow-up session explores the expanding role of SI beyond conference environments, offering insights into emerging opportunities and real-world challenges. If you have missed Part 1, you can purchase the PD webinar here (note: this is not mandatory for the participation in Part 2).

We will cover the following topics:

• The changing landscape of interpreting as a professional service
• Infiltration of SI into the traditional consecutive only turfs
• Opportunities: settings/scenarios that SI will be in demand
• Challenges: the pitfalls and obstacles to decent performance
• Unleash your potential: how to sharpen/finetune skills using all available resources

If you have any questions you'd like addressed during the session, please submit them here to help the presenter prepare and tailor the content to your needs. 

Whether you're a seasoned interpreter or just beginning to explore the simultaneous mode, this session will offer valuable perspectives and practical tips to support your professional development.

Our Presenter - Shiyi Ye

Shiyi Ye holds a Master of Conference Interpreting from Macquarie University in Sydney, where he teaches interpreting and translation part-time. He completed his training in interpreter education at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. In addition to training future colleagues, he continues to work as a freelance interpreter and translator, serving various events and clients in Australia and overseas.

A full member of AUSIT since 2010, he has served in various roles on the NSW Branch Committee, including Branch Secretary and Branch Delegate. He is also an active member of both the International Association of Conference Interpreters and the Translators Association of China.

Joining the Webinar

The Zoom links for the webinar will be sent out 1 day prior to the event. Please ensure you have downloaded the latest version of Zoom in preparation.

PD Logbook

Introductory PD.

Please  consult the NAATI Recertification Catalogue to allocate the relevant PD Points. Some activities can be included under different categories, so please choose the most appropriate category for your recertification purposes.

Certificates and Recordings
Webinar recordings and Certificates for PD purposes may take approximately two (2) weeks to be released following the event.

This is a live webinar event and will be recorded. The recording
will be shared with registrants.

		Wednesday 18 June 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm AEST Click here to view time zone converter
		Zoom online Webinar
		AUSIT Members - AUD $30 AUSIT Students - AUD $15 Members of ASLITA, NZSTI and associations that are FIT-ITF members - AUD $30 Non-Members - AUD $90
		Register HERE

Not a member of AUSIT? Join us to benefit from discounted member fees and future opportunities! When you sign up as an AUSIT Member you will pay lower fees for our Professional Development workshops and social events - Click HERE to find out more.