AUSIT QLD Branch Presents: Working confidently as an Interpreter in Australian Courts & Tribunals

Registration Options:

• Option 1: In-class Training only on 26 Sep.
• Option 2: In-class Training on 26 Sep. and Courts/Tribunals visit on 30 Sep.
• Option 3: In-class Training on 26 Sep and Courts/Tribunals visits on 7 Oct.

Do you ever wonder what happens in a courtroom and how interpreters work in court/tribunal settings?

Do you feel you have the skills and certification required but lack the confidence to work in complex and challenging court settings?

WCIC, a 7-hour seminar divided into two 3.5-hour sessions, will provide you with many of the answers you’re searching for. It covers many theoretical and practical aspects of working as an interpreter in Australian courts and tribunals, concentrating on Brisbane, Qld.

Part I, 3.5 hours: delivered at the QLD Multicultural Centre (Kangaroo Point) and covers theory/background on court structures in Australia. You will also experience a realistic overview of a criminal case and the steps followed during a real trial, as well as a close idea of a courtroom lay-out, especially sitting arrangements when interpreters are present in the court.

Includes: preparation, briefings to be sought, empanelling of jury, language of the courts, addressing the court and a brief overview of the JCDI Recommended National Standards for Interpreters Working in Australian Courts and Tribunals, and ethics involved.

Morning tea will be provided.

Part 2, 3.5 hours: A guided visit to ‘live’ proceedings in open courts and tribunals around Brisbane CBD (two dates to chose from). This is a priceless opportunity to experience real court proceedings and pose questions to Patricia on each court case observed, to familiarise yourself with court environments and to learn helpful logistics to ‘navigate’ them successfully.

You will come away with relevant knowledge of the intricacies of working in courts, and tips on how you can optimise your interpreting services and increase your confidence. You will have a better awareness of the expertise and attitude required of an interpreter working in the court/legal system in Australia and how to improve your knowledge and skills.

Finally, you will receive extra reference material, such as a digital glossary of legal terms, Dr Sandra Hale’s Guide to Magistrates, examples of swearing-in of interpreters, Roles & Responsibilities of Tribunals in Australia and other very practical guides to your court work.

Our Presenter - Patricia Argüello de Avila

Originally from El Salvador, Patricia arrived in Australia in 1990 and has led her own Brisbane-based consultancy since then. She has over 35 years’ experience as a conference interpreter in Australia and overseas and is an active court and medical interpreter and translator. She studied a Diploma of Legal Studies to support her legal interpreting in Australia. She incorporates her insights and practical tips into the training programs she designs and delivers.

‘Working Confidently as an Interpreter in Australian Courts & Tribunals’ is an 7-hour seminar designed by Patricia. This seminar has been delivered in Brisbane (twice), Adelaide and Hobart, and interpreters have found it greatly helped boost their self-confidence when working in legal settings.

Patricia has also designed and delivered courses for people who work with interpreters such as lawyers, clinicians, schoolteachers and social workers, and is often invited to address students at Universities and TAFE Institutes on topics related to the T/I profession.

She is a past Convenor of the NAATI QLD Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) and was a member of the NAATI TRAC. She is an AUSIT Fellow and has held positions on the AUSIT National Council and AUSIT QLD Branch and is currently the chair of AUSIT’s Advocacy Committee. She is a sought-after mentor and coach for new interpreters and translators who value her knowledge and experience on best ways to prepare for NAATI tests.

Venue and Parking
Transport and parking information can be found here https://qmc.org.au/visit/

PD Logbook

Intermediate PD. 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