Published Wednesday, 17 September, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Shine congratulates Queensland’s first accredited Indigenous interpreters
The Department of Justice and Attorney-General in conjunction with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) has piloted Queensland’s first successful training of Indigenous interpreters.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today congratulated three local Aurukun community members for successfully completing the required training.
“The valuable skills these participants have gained will benefit not only themselves but contribute towards their community’s goal of reducing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system,” said Mr Shine.
“This is an important initiative introduced by the Bligh Government to be supported across whole-of-government, as part of Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland commitment to a fair and equal future.
In August, three local Aurukun community members successfully completed the required training and were accredited at the paraprofessional level. Congratulations to the following:
• Ms Dorothy Pootchemunka
• Ms Vera Koomeeta, and
• Ms Phyllis Yunkaporta.
“This project is the first of its kind in Queensland, and will allow for Indigenous interpreters to be accredited to the paraprofessional level,” said Mr Shine.
“In the past Indigenous interpreters have not received accreditation to the level generally considered appropriate for court interpreters.
“Even though the primary goal of the project is to have more court interpreters, it will also enable members of the Aurukun community without sufficient proficiency in spoken English to communicate reliably with all authorities and agencies, whether this is within criminal justice, legal services, health or education.
“Through the provision of interpreting assistance, all government agencies can benefit,” Mr Shine said.
“I encourage other Queensland government agencies to consider making use of these professional interpreters and to consider the long term advantages of supporting such a program,” Mr Shine said.
Media Contact: Kate Lennox 3224 7481 or 0421 127 869
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today congratulated three local Aurukun community members for successfully completing the required training.
“The valuable skills these participants have gained will benefit not only themselves but contribute towards their community’s goal of reducing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system,” said Mr Shine.
“This is an important initiative introduced by the Bligh Government to be supported across whole-of-government, as part of Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland commitment to a fair and equal future.
In August, three local Aurukun community members successfully completed the required training and were accredited at the paraprofessional level. Congratulations to the following:
• Ms Dorothy Pootchemunka
• Ms Vera Koomeeta, and
• Ms Phyllis Yunkaporta.
“This project is the first of its kind in Queensland, and will allow for Indigenous interpreters to be accredited to the paraprofessional level,” said Mr Shine.
“In the past Indigenous interpreters have not received accreditation to the level generally considered appropriate for court interpreters.
“Even though the primary goal of the project is to have more court interpreters, it will also enable members of the Aurukun community without sufficient proficiency in spoken English to communicate reliably with all authorities and agencies, whether this is within criminal justice, legal services, health or education.
“Through the provision of interpreting assistance, all government agencies can benefit,” Mr Shine said.
“I encourage other Queensland government agencies to consider making use of these professional interpreters and to consider the long term advantages of supporting such a program,” Mr Shine said.
Media Contact: Kate Lennox 3224 7481 or 0421 127 869