Conversations: Interpreting and Translating's Podcast

Season 2 Episode 2 - Ask NAATI March 2021, Part 4 of 4 - Certification Policy and Development Manager, Aurelie Sheehan and National Operations Manager, Michael Nemarich

March 26, 2021 Conversations: Interpreting and Translating
Conversations: Interpreting and Translating's Podcast
Season 2 Episode 2 - Ask NAATI March 2021, Part 4 of 4 - Certification Policy and Development Manager, Aurelie Sheehan and National Operations Manager, Michael Nemarich
Show Notes

NAATI and All Graduates have collaborated in an initiative that aims to provide information to practitioners directly from a NAATI representative. Every quarter, a panel of NAATI managers will answer questions that Interpreters and Translators have sent through using an online form. 

Questions will be picked at random and directed at the panel by Fatih at the end of each quarter.

Guest Bio: 

Ask NAATI March 2021, features Certification Policy and Development Manager, Aurelie Sheehan and National Operations Manager, Michael Nemarich on the panel.

List of Questions for Part 4:

-As now many organisations accept digital copies of certified translation documents, I found that some migration agencies are illegally using NAATI translator's stamps. Once an agency has received some documents translated by a translator, they would know what the stamp looks like and can keep a copy of it. With lots of document editing software available, it's very easy for an agency to "steal" a NAATI translator's stamp and "paste" it on whatever documents they want, and then send the fake stamped documents to relevant parties. During the whole process, the translator and the document receiver do not know the truth. I have seen many migration agents advertising on their website saying "Free NAATI stamp to put on your documents if required". How does NAATI prevent these kinds of things from happening? How can the translation document receivers know if the stamps on the documents are real or not? How can translators themselves know if their stamps have been misused or not?

-Why is there no standard hourly rate for interpreters, every Agency pays different and when is travel allowance payable, how is the distance calculated: is the reference point from the city or distance from the interpreters home?

-An Agency is allegedly letting all of their contractor interpreters (of all levels of certification) access and accept the available interpreting jobs at the same time, causing an unfair allocation of jobs, despite they always deny that and claim that interpreters with the highest level of certification get the priority. The fact is all certified interpreters working for this Agency are currently getting much fewer jobs than their provisional certified colleagues. This could be seen simply as their way of business running, but it undermines what NAATI is always promoting, which is every interpreter should aim to further their skills and obtain the next level of certification. Said Agency is prioritising provisional certified interpreters over certified interpreters, thus dis-encouraging provisional certified interpreters from improving themselves. What is NAATI’s view on this?

-In the current environment, most agencies have shifted to telephone interpreting services thus fewer hours face to face so how could interpreters fulfil the criteria of 200 hours if jobs are scarce! Should NAATI reduce the criteria considering work practices have changed!?

Your interest and support is greatly appreciated and we hope you will join us for our events throughout 2021 and onwards.

Don’t forget to visit our training website for more information and PD opportunities: https://www.conversations-interpretingandtranslating.com.au/w/