AUSIT QLD Branch: Translating Specialised Historical Texts — Theory and Practice (Webinar)

Registrations close Sunday at midnight, 26 July 2026

Have you ever encountered words that have faded from use, terms tied to vanished worlds, and meanings that have transformed over centuries? How do you translate these terms for a modern reader? While literary translation is widely discussed, the vital field of historical translation remains largely unexplored. In academia, for instance, there are only a handful of peer-reviewed articles that discuss this topic. Moreover, countless historical texts that are relevant to our modern world are at risk of falling into oblivion.

This practical workshop offers the opportunity to reflect on this topic. You will have the opportunity to translate excerpts from 19th and early 20th-century everyday documents in Spanish, French, Mandarin, Japanese, German, and Italian. We will discuss effective methods for tackling the translation of historical texts and explore the historical and cultural contexts that brought them to life. If you are passionate about history and want to practice translating brief passages from the past, this workshop is for you.

Our Presenter -  Dr Andrea Balloesteros Danel

Dr. Andrea Ballesteros Danel is an award-winning historian, archaeologist, and NAATI-certified translator with over 20 years of experience. She holds a PhD from the Australian National University and is the author of Pre-Columbian Contact between the Americas and Oceania (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024), awarded Best Monograph by AILASA in 2025.

Her research is featured in The Cambridge History of the Pacific Ocean and the award-winning documentary The Raftsmen. Based in Brisbane, Andrea is dedicated to unearthing forgotten stories, including a children’s book set for release in September.

Joining the Webinar

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

PD Logbook

Intermediate PD.

Please  consult the new 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 only.

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