AUSIT QLD Branch Presents: The Big PD Day

AUSIT Qld Branch presents:
The Big PD Day 

Saturday 29 August 2026
8:30am — 5:00pm

University of Queensland, St Lucia
Steele Building (No. 3)

Registrations close Midnight, 25 August 2026

Register before the end of the financial year, and you may
be able to claim this professional development expense in
this year’s tax return.

Don't miss AUSIT Queensland's Big PD Day 2026, a full day of professional development, connection, exchange and professional growth for translators and interpreters. 

Formerly known as the AUSIT Queensland Mini-Conference, the Big PD Day brings practitioners together to learn, reflect, share experiences and strengthen the bonds of our professional community. This year’s program will explore some of the most current and important issues facing our profession, including language services governance, technology and AI, multicultural practice, domestic and family violence interpreting, accessibility and the broader cultural role of translators and interpreters.

Presented in partnership with the University of Queensland and hosted by its School of Languages and Cultures, the Big PD Day will feature a full program of keynotes, presentations, conversations and networking opportunities.

This year’s confirmed speakers include:

• Magdalena Rowan (Chair of the NAATI Board), on NAATI’s Strategic Plan and its future support for the translating and interpreting profession.
• Angel Bogicevic (Principal Policy Officer, Language Services, Department of Health Qld), on reforming Queensland’s health language services through stronger coordination, accountability and long-term planning.
• Sam Berner (Arabic–English Translator, Mentor and Educator), on translators and interpreters as community intellectuals engaged in highlighting the cultural heritage of their linguistic communities, not just transferring words.
• Angela Cook (Lecturer, University of Queensland) and Jérémy Tupper (Academic, University of Queensland), on what professional translators can learn from teaching literary translation in real-world client settings.
• Juliana Mantilla (Education and Training Program Manager at Challenge DV, and Social Advisor to the Consulate General of Colombia), on interpreting in domestic and family violence contexts, with a focus on risk, ethics and culturally responsive practice.
• Patricia Argüello de Ávila (AUSIT Fellow, NAATI RAC Member and a Qld Law Society Associate Member), on the many faces of interpreting, from global assignments to community practice, with tips for strengthening simultaneous skills.
• Nancy Guevara (AUSIT Qld PD Coordinator, Spanish–English Translator, Interpreter and Live Subtitler), on shared skills and new possibilities at the intersection of language services and accessibility.
• Christine Le (PhD Candidate, Western Sydney University), on using AI as a professional upgrade for translators and interpreters, with practical strategies and safeguards for everyday practice.

In addition, the popular In Conversation sessions will be back this year. These moderated conversations offer a relaxed space to ask questions, discuss topical issues and hear from experienced colleagues about the challenges, dilemmas and rewarding aspects of working as a translator or interpreter. Separate sessions will be held for translators and for interpreters.

This will also be a valuable opportunity to spend the day in the company of colleagues, exchange ideas, build new professional connections, and strengthen ties within the Queensland translating and interpreting community.

The full program is now available for you to explore. Browse the schedule, learn more about the speakers and start planning your Big PD Day experience. Click here to view the program

Questions? Please email the Qld Committee at qld@ausit.org

Catering
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided.
Dietary requirements will be requested as part of the registration process.

Venue and Parking
The UQ St Lucia campus is conveniently serviced by several direct bus routes from the Brisbane CBD and surrounding suburbs. The nearest train stations are Toowong, Park Road and Dutton Park. The University of Queensland also has a CityCat ferry terminal on the St Lucia campus.

The closest bus stop to the Steele Building (No.3) is UQ Lakes.  Nearest parking is No.10

View Uni Campus Map.PDF

PD Logbook
Please consult the new NAATI Recertification Catalogue to allocate the relevant PD points. Some activities may fall under different categories, so attendees should choose the most appropriate category for their recertification purposes.

Certificates and Recordings

Certificates for PD purposes will be issued to confirmed attendees only, and may take up to two (2) weeks to be sent out. This event will not be recorded.

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.