NAATI’s credentials for Auslan and other signed languages
If you need to communicate with a Deaf or hard-of-hearing person, you may need to engage a NAATI-certified Auslan or Deaf interpreter or a written English into Auslan translator.
How many interpreters to book
The length and complexity of your event, meeting or appointment will determine how many interpreters you need to book.
For one-on-one appointments of one hour (such as a consultation with a doctor or a parent-teacher interview), one interpreter is usually suitable. However, for engagements involving more than two participants (such as a workplace meeting, webinar or conference presentation), you may need to book two interpreters. Booking two interpreters supports the flow of the communication and allows interpreters to interpret in turns and take necessary breaks.
Choosing the right certification
NAATI awards several different certifications for interpreters and translators who support communication with deaf or hard-of-hearing people. It is important to engage an interpreter or translator who holds the type of certification appropriate to your situation and communication needs.
To become certified by NAATI, translators and interpreters must meet various prerequisite requirements prior to sitting a certification test. Each credential has its own set of prerequisites (for example, a different level of training required), but all of them include:
- Formal training in translation or interpreting
- Language proficiency
- Ethical competency: Knowledge and understanding of the relevant Code of Ethics all certified translators and interpreters are bound by.
- Intercultural competency: Knowledge and skill required to work cross-culturally in the Australian context.
Recognised Practising Interpreters work with low-demand sign languages (such as New Zealand Sign Language and Deaf interpreting between American Sign Language and Auslan) where NAATI
testing isn’t available. They haven’t had their skills tested by NAATI but have satisfied minimum training requirements and have recent, regular interpreting experience.
Certified Provisional Interpreters have had their interpreting skills tested for general, non-complex conversations, generally between two people. For example, they may interpret GP appointments, driving tests, parent-teacher interviews, community events and social services appointments. The word ‘provisional’ is used as NAATI has not assessed the broader range of interpreting skills tested at Certified Interpreter level.
- Interpreting face-to-face (or video) conversations between English and Auslan, facilitated by live role-players
- Interpreting a monologue into Auslan (simultaneous interpreting).
Certified Interpreters can do complex interpreting in most situations, including health and legal settings. For example, they may interpret specialist medical appointments, university lectures, business meetings and legal appointments.
- Interpreting conversations between two people
- Sight translation of documents from written English into Auslan.
- Interpreting monologues (simultaneous interpreting)
Certified Specialist Health Interpreters are experienced and accomplished interpreters who are experts at interpreting in health settings. They have passed a medical knowledge test about general medical knowledge and the role of interpreters in healthcare. They have also passed an interpreting test that assesses their ability to interpret expert-to-expert communications (such as when a doctor speaks to another health professional about a patient) and interpret in mental health settings.
They worked as Certified Interpreters and received specialist training before advancing to this level.
Tasks assessed by NAATI- Health knowledge test
- Interpreting monologues, including on mental health (simultaneous interpreting)
- Interpreting a monolingual exchange (simultaneous interpreting of multiple English speakers in a complex setting)
Certified Specialist Legal Interpreters are experienced and accomplished interpreters who are experts at interpreting in legal settings. They have passed a legal knowledge test about general legal knowledge and the role of interpreters in legal settings. They have also passed an interpreting test that assesses their ability to interpret expert-to-expert communications (such as exchanges between a judge and lawyers) and courtroom cross-examinations.
They worked as Certified Interpreters and received specialist training before advancing to this level.
Tasks assessed by NAATI- Legal knowledge test
- Dialogic extracts task (consecutive or simultaneous interpreting of a simulated cross-examination scenario)
- Interpreting monologues (simultaneous interpreting)
- Interpreting a monolingual exchange (simultaneous interpreting of multiple English speakers in a complex setting)
Certified Conference Interpreters work in high-level conference settings. For example, they may interpret a conference paper given by a Deaf academic into English, or they may interpret a conference paper given by an English-speaking researcher into Auslan. Their credential covers one language direction (for example, Auslan to English or English to Auslan), though some interpreters hold multiple language combinations.
Tasks assessed by NAATI- Interpreting monologues (simultaneous interpreting) of seen and unseen speeches
Recognised Practising Deafblind Interpreters support communication with people who are Deafblind. They will convey visual information, such as environmental descriptions, facial expressions or reactions, in addition to spoken or signed information. Deafblind interpreters use a range of communication techniques including tactile sign language, close range signing, visual frame signing, finger spelling and social haptic communication.
Recognised Practising Deafblind Interpreters haven’t had their Deafblind interpreting skills directly tested by NAATI but have satisfied minimum training requirements, have recent, regular interpreting experience, and hold a NAATI certification in Auslan or Deaf interpreting.
Certified Provisional Deaf Interpreters are Deaf interpreters who have advanced visual-gestural communication skills. Deaf Interpreters work together with (hearing) Auslan interpreters to ensure access for deaf people who are not fluent in Auslan.
A deaf person may require a Deaf Interpreter if they:
- have a sensory or cognitive disability
- have recently migrated to Australia and sign in a language other than Auslan
- have limited conventional Auslan skills.
- Interpreting dialogues (consecutive and simultaneous interpreting)
- Sight translations of documents from written English into Auslan and from written English to Non-Conventional Sign Language
Recognised Practising Translators (Written English into Auslan) translate English source documents or videos into Auslan. They haven’t had their skills tested by NAATI but have satisfied minimum training requirements and have recent, regular interpreting experience.
Learn more about the Certification System on the NAATI website
