NAT: Interpreting in Mental Health Settings

                           REGISTRATIONS CLOSED


The aim of this webinar is to provide interpreters with background knowledge of mental illness, psychiatric interviewing and assessment, outline the common interpreting challenges, offer some strategies for interpreting in a range of psychiatric consultations and discuss positive coping strategies.

Interpreting in mental health settings is complex and interpreters face multiple challenges. Mental health and allied mental health professionals rely primarily on verbal and non-verbal communication for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

For a successful therapeutic relationship, interpreters require contextual knowledge and an understanding of the role communication plays in the different types of encounters e.g. psychiatric assessment, cognitive assessment, therapy, or family meetings). For example, to make a correct diagnosis, it is crucial to understand the client’s cultural references as well as how he/she communicates (i.e. tone, volume and rate). The challenge for the interpreter is to accurately represent these in order to enable the clinician to make the most appropriate clinical decision.

A common culture or history between client and interpreter may increase the interpreter’s credibility, as well as their ability to fulfil their role. It is important for interpreters to develop positive coping strategies.


Presenter  - Andrés Otero Forero

This workshop is facilitated by Colombian-born psychologist Andrés Otero Forero.
Andrés has extensive experience in education. He was a guest lecturer at different academic institutions before coming to Australia in 2003. Since then, Andrés has worked in the multicultural sector. He currently works in the Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre as the Clinical Educator.

Joining the Webinar

Please NOTE this is a live webinar commencing 10.00am Queensland time (AEST).  You must log in and register to attend at the date and time advised.  Registrants will be provided with an access link to join two days before the event.


This is a LIVE EVENT and WILL be recorded

PD Logbook: Level - Intermediate

Please  consult the NAATI Recertification Catalogue to allocate the relevant PD Points - downloadable from www.naati.com.au.   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 and copies of recordings (if available) may take approximately two (2) weeks to be released following the event.