Available courses
Interpreting in mental health settings can present unique professional and emotional challenges. Interpreters may be asked to work in a wide range of environments, including hospital and community settings. These encounters can involve complex communication, sensitive topics, and emotionally charged conversations.
This presentation will provide an overview of the types of mental health environments interpreters may encounter and explore the particular challenges that can arise in these contexts. It will also discuss practical strategies to support interpreters in managing these situations while maintaining professionalism and wellbeing, and highlight the important and rewarding role interpreters play in supporting mental health care.
After completing this webinar, participants will gain:
Knowledge of:
- Different mental health settings and environments in which interpreters may work (e.g. hospital and community contexts)
- Common communication dynamics and challenges in mental health interpreting
- The ethical and professional considerations specific to mental health settings
- The role of interpreters in supporting effective mental health care
Skills to:
- Identify and navigate complex and sensitive interactions in mental health settings
- Apply practical strategies to manage emotionally charged or challenging situations
- Maintain professional boundaries while responding to client needs
- Support their own wellbeing when working in demanding interpreting contexts
Presenter
Sarah Funnell is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and the Founder and Director of Elevate Psychology Centre. She has extensive experience working across the public and tertiary sectors. Sarah is committed to promoting positive and meaningful change in the lives of individuals and families affected by mental health challenges. Through her clinical, leadership, and supervisory roles, Sarah works closely with individuals and organisations to strengthen service delivery and support workforce wellbeing. She is passionate about improving systems of care and providing supervision, training, and professional development to clinicians across the sector.
This webinar explores how book translation differs from agency and community work, and what publishers actually expect from translators. Topics include building relationships with publishers, working with style guides, contracts and payment structures, managing long-term projects with staggered delivery, and handling complex file formats and layouts.
Translators who are curious about book translation, looking to diversify their practice, or wanting a clearer understanding of the realities of working with publishers will benefit from this course.
After completing this webinar, participants will gain:
Knowledge of:
- The technical, organisational and research skills required for book projects
- Publisher agreements, style guides and potential cultural adaptations
- Practical strategies for finding work and creating a professional portfolio
- How to use AI thoughtfully as a professional tool for research and drafting
- Key differences compared to community or certified translations
Skills to:
- Manage a long-term book project
- Identify key contacts in the publishing industry
- Create a professional portfolio
Presenter
Nicola Thayil (née Savage) is a Melbourne-based French>English translator and French–English conference interpreter. She holds a Master of Interpreting and Translation Studies degree from Monash University, and has tutored in T&I Studies, both there and at Macquarie University, NSW. Nicola is currently AUSIT’s National Education Coordinator, serving on the Education Committee, as well as being mum to eight-year-old Joseph.
This is a 120-minute webinar on Preparing for Medical Interpreting Assignments offered by AUSIT in partnership with NAATI.
Who would this be useful for? Interpreters and translators working in health settings.
After completing the webinar you will gain:
Knowledge of:
- Structured approaches to healthcare assignments
- Essential tools for terminology management and skill
growth
Skills to:
- Improve accuracy, confidence, and ethical decision-making
- Build practical skills for preparation, performance, and reflection
Presented/Facilitated by: Qiusi Zhang
Qiusi Zhang holds a Master of Translation and Interpreting. She is a Certified translator and interpreter, staff interpreter with WSLHD and a trainer and assessor (she delivers qualifications in Advanced Diploma of Translating and Interpreting and Diploma of Interpreting). She is involved with AUSIT as the Chairperson of the Tasmanian branch.
Note that this training is restricted to NAATI Certified Practitioners. Self-enrolment is only enabled for users with a valid CPN (please check and update your profile if necessary).
This is a 120-minute webinar on Mastering the NAATI Certified Interpreter Test offered by AUSIT in partnership with NAATI.
Join us for an in-depth and engaging webinar led by experienced interpreter and NAATI examiner Silvia Martinez, as she shares her personal journey and practical strategies for preparing for the Certified Interpreter (CI) Test.
Who would this be useful for? This session is a must-watch for interpreters working in community and public sector settings, especially those aiming to demonstrate full competence in the CI test across interpreting modes—dialogue, long consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation.
After completing the webinar you will gain: actionable advice, realistic preparation strategies, and encouragement to build confidence in your interpreting practice:
Knowledge of:
- The structure and expectations of the CI test
- NAATI resources, rubrics, and candidate instructions
- Real-world examples from legal, health, and community domains
Skills of:
- Developing note-taking systems, memory techniques, and delivery skills
- Simultaneous interpreting, including courtroom and mental health settings
- Managing test-day conditions
- Developing language competency, ethical practice, and professional growth
Presented/Facilitated by: Silvia Martinez
Silvia Martinez is a highly experienced interpreter and NAATI examiner on the Spanish panel. With many years of professional practice across diverse interpreting contexts—including legal, health, and community settings—Silvia brings deep insight into the skills and preparation required for high-level interpreting credentials. She holds both the Certified Specialist Legal Interpreter and Certified Conference Interpreter qualifications, and has worked extensively in simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation modes. Silvia is passionate about supporting interpreters in their professional development and regularly contributes to training and assessment initiatives.
Note that this training is restricted to NAATI Certified Practitioners. Self-enrolment is only enabled for users with a valid CPN (please check and update your profile if necessary).
Translators and interpreters often work in high-pressure environments, facing both emotional and cognitive challenges that can significantly impact their wellbeing. This presentation will explore the concept of mental toughness as a key factor in building resilience and maintaining performance under pressure. It will also highlight the role of self-care in supporting personal wellbeing, preventing burnout, and sustaining long-term professional health.
This presentation will focus on:
- Understanding what mental toughness is and why it matters
- Exploring the core components of mental toughness
- Identifying practical strategies to build and strengthen mental toughness
- Reflecting on the meaning of self-care and how to apply it in your own life
This professional development webinar is presented in partnership with AUSIT and NAATI.
Presenter:
Sarah Funnell is a Senior Clinical Psychologist at NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network and Director and Founder of Elevate Psychology Centre. She has extensive experience working across different areas of the public sector. Sarah has substantial experience working with a myriad of presentation types. She has a strong commitment to promoting positive and meaningful change in the lives of individuals and families affected by mental health issues. Additionally, Sarah is very passionate about improving service provision and change within organisations, as well as providing support, supervision and training to individuals.
Note that this training is restricted to NAATI Certified Practitioners. Self-enrolment is only enabled for users with a valid CPN (please check and update your profile if necessary).
This professional development webinar presented in partnership with AUSIT and NAATI is designed to assist interpreters in developing knowledge and skills to interpret ethically and effectively in medical assignments. We will present an overview of medical settings, including specialist healthcare areas, and explore the interpreter’s role in facilitating patient-centred communication. We will also discuss the environmental, interpersonal, intrapersonal and paralinguistic demands inherent in medical interpreting. Participants will develop best practice strategies to prepare for assignments, to interpret accurately and impartially during medical consultations and to follow up appropriately.
After completing this webinar, participants will gain:
Knowledge of:
- generalist and specialist medical settings where healthcare interpreters work
- medical interpreting demands according to the Demand Control Schema
- competencies required to interpret accurately and effectively across health settings
- healthcare interpreter's role in facilitating patient-centred care
Skills to:
- prepare for assignments
- apply modes and strategies to best facilitate delivery of patient-centred care
- interpret in onsite and phone interpreting assignments
- recognise signs of stress and seek emotional support when required
Presenter
Anna Kenny is a Polish Interpreter and a Professional Development Coordinator with the NSW Health Care Interpreter Services. Anna was born and educated in Poland. She graduated from Warsaw University with a Masters Degree in English Philology. Anna also holds a Masters Degree in Interpreting and Translation Pedagogy from Macquarie University, Sydney. Anna has worked for HCIS for over 30 years where she coordinates and facilitates training for healthcare interpreters across NSW. She has also taught interpreting at Macquarie University, developed medical interpreting resources for RMIT and facilitated seminars on medical interpreting, ethics and interpreting skills for AUSIT and private interpreting agencies. Anna is a recipient of the 2018 AUSIT excellence award for Outstanding Contribution to Translation and Interpreting.
This professional development webinar is presented in partnership with AUSIT and NAATI.
Translating for evidentiary purposes is extremely challenging. To some extent, it is analogous to court interpreting, in that it should not only render what has been said but also how something is said, but in writing. An expert witness isn’t just there to share knowledge—they’re there to persuade, clarify, and withstand scrutiny. Therefore, preparing in advance is absolutely essential.
This webinar would benefit language professionals who would understand better the legal implications of their work when it is used as evidence in court. Language professionals would learn best practices for presenting expert evidence, handling cross-examination, and preparing statements.
Attending this webinar offers crucial insights into legal procedures, ethical responsibilities, and best practices when language professionals prepare themselves to give evidence in court as an Expert / Knowledgeable Witness.
- Enhance courtroom communication skills: Learn how to prepare to present linguistic evidence clearly and confidently under cross-examination.
- Prepare for high-stakes testimony: Understand how to structure Statements and respond to legal challenges effectively.
- Position yourself for expert witness roles: Build credibility and readiness to take on complex legal assignments.
- Stay competitive in legal translation markets: Demonstrating courtroom
expertise can open doors to specialised work and higher compensation.
Presenter
Mr Steve Elkanovich is a practising NAATI Certified Professional Interpreter and Translator and has been an AUSIT member since 1996. He studied linguistics at the University of New South Wales and interpreting and translation at the Belarusian State Linguistic University. Steve has over forty years of professional experience and has worked as a professional Interpreter and Translator in Europe, Africa, and Australia, specialising in investigative and forensic translation and interpreting. He also taught languages and interpreting for many years at the Sydney Institute of Technology (TAFE). Currently, Steve is an Assistant Director Language Services at the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
This webinar will trace the evolution of modern translation and interpreting theories, exploring how the field has developed and how these ideas shape our work in academia today. It will then delve into the practical application of key theoretical frameworks, particularly functional theories in translation and linguistics, within community settings. With this foundation, the speaker will discuss the roles of translators, interpreters, and users in community translation and interpreting, the differing views on translation quality among stakeholders, and how theoretical insights can empower practitioners in their everyday practice.
After completing this webinar, participants will gain:
Knowledge of:
- Systemic functional linguistics and functional translation studies
- How systemic functional linguistics can be applied to translation and interpreting
practice - Theoretical approaches to translation and interpreting practice, particularly in relation to quality assessment
- Two assessment tools for evaluating translation quality and identifying factors that contribute to poor translation quality
Skills to:
- Apply functional translation and linguistic theories
Evaluate translation quality using a theory-informed framework - Use introductory assessment tools to identify factors contributing to poor translation quality
- Integrate theoretical insights into reflective and evidence-based professional decision-making
Presenter
Dr Wei Teng is a researcher, educator, and practitioner with expertise in Community Translation and Interpreting (CT&I). A full member of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters and a NAATI Certified Provisional Interpreter, he integrates professional practice with scholarship. His research combines CT&I studies with Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), advancing socially responsive approaches to multilingual communication and service delivery.
He won a New Zealand MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship (2022-2023), and currently leads a project combining concepts from SFL, psychology, and community engagement to evaluate the clinical validity of AI-generated translations of mental-health screening tools for Asian communities.