Interpreters
Second language skills may decrease in stressful situations | Gender issues
Confidentiality in smaller communities | Briefing and debriefing the interpreter
Issues for specific groups | Police Officers | State Courts
Department of Community Services | Non-profit community organisations
Legal Aid Commission | Community Legal Centres | Private solicitors
Health system | Individuals | Emergency Line - DIMIA
Service providers who are involved in assisting women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault need to take into account:
- The effect of stress on second language skills
- Gender issues
- Confidentiality
- Briefing and debriefing for the interpreter.
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Second language skills may decrease in stressful situations
Interviews in situations of domestic violence and sexual assault are most often stressful for all concerned. Second language competency skills decrease in stressful situations and a woman may be more fluent in her first language in a time of crisis.
Gender issues
It is strongly recommended that service providers arrange for a qualified female interpreter to be engaged for an assignment involving women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
Also, it is recommended that a separate interpreter be booked for the woman in a domestic violence matter.
Providing a female interpreter may not always be possible for women from some of the smaller and/or newly arrived language groups. Difficulties may be encountered in finding a female interpreter due to a shortage of qualified interpreters in these languages.
In these instances, and if there is a male interpreter available, the woman for whom the interpreter is needed should be asked, if possible, if she will agree to assistance being provided by a male interpreter.
Back to top | Confidentiality in smaller communities
Confidentiality becomes an issue in smaller communities or recently arrived groups. The woman may be reluctant to use an interpreter because she knows the interpreter and/or fears that details of the matter will be made public. It is important that service providers stress the importance of confidentiality at the beginning of the interview and obtain agreement from the interpreter that the woman's confidentiality will be respected in all circumstances.
Similarly, a family member or a neighbour should not be used as an interpreter. This is particularly so if there is any possibility of a family member being the perpetrator of the abuse.
Briefing and debriefing the interpreter
Once an interpreter has been arranged, service providers should brief the interpreter on the situation and the areas to be covered before the interview begins. The interpreter may offer information about relevant cultural factors relating to domestic violence and sexual assault. This information should be noted but should not be regarded as definitive.
Following the interview, the service provider should debrief the interpreter to ensure that she has an opportunity to air her concerns about any aspect of the case and have these answered and to thank her for her services.
It should always be remembered that the interpreter is not an advocate or a counsellor and should not be asked to provide advice, or an opinion or any other assistance, beyond an interpretation of the interview between the woman and the service provider. |
Issues for specific groups
Police Officers
NSW Police Officers are often the first point of contact in most criminal incidents and are given priority in the allocation of interpreter services.
Depending on the circumstances, police officers should contact a telephone interpreter for immediate assistance, then proceed to book an on-site interpreter for taking statements and follow-up interviews (debriefing sessions).
Bookings may be made by telephone, then immediately confirmed by fax.
For emergencies that occur after hours, police should contact a telephone interpreter for immediate assistance, then arrange for an on-site interpreter.
The numbers for booking an interpreter are on Community Relations Commission posters. These posters should be displayed at all police stations. After-hours bookings are made through the Duty Operations Inspector of Police or by the individual officer. If an appropriate on-site interpreter is not available, a telephone interpreter may be used.
Should the police need to pursue the matter in Court it is the officer's responsibility to book the interpreter for the first appearance, whether the interpreter is required for the victim or the offender. It is recommended that a separate interpreter be booked for the victim and the offender in a domestic violence matter.
Police prosecutors are responsible for booking interpreters for their witnesses.
Police should note all interpreter numbers in their police diaries, especially the Language Services, Community Relations Commission for a Multicultural NSW (previously the Ethnic Affairs Commission), which is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
State Courts
State Courts are provided with fee exempt interpreter services from Language Services of the Community Relations Commission, for all domestic violence matters and for defendants in all criminal matters.
Interpreters should be booked for mentions and hearings. This includes Court appearances and applications and enquiries relating to domestic violence matters.
A designated court official, or a NSW Police Officer must make the booking.
Individuals and non-profit community organisations directly approaching the Court, and service providers advocating for the individual, should ask the Chamber Magistrate or Clerk of the Court to book an interpreter.
The Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (WDVCAS) operates at many Local Courts. The scheme provides information and assistance at Court to a person who has experienced domestic violence, as well as a safe room which they can use while waiting for their case to commence. Interpreters who are booked for the hearing can be used to assist in interviews between WDVCAS staff and victims prior to and after appearing in court. | Department of Community Services
Caseworkers located at Community Service Centres and caseworkers located at the Helpline, should use professional on-site interpreters.
At the point of initial telephone contact or where there may be immediate urgent intervention, the caseworker may use a telephone interpreter and then proceed to book an on-site interpreter to conduct more detailed assessments and interviews. In some rural and remote locations, it may not be possible to access an on-site interpreter.
During normal working hours, bookings for interpreters by caseworkers are made through the respective Community Service Centre. For after hours emergency situations, the Helpline will arrange an interpreter from the Community Relations Commission, provided that an interpreter has not already been arranged by police.
It should be noted that bilingual caseworkers may still require the services of an interpreter to explain complicated legal proceedings.
Non-profit community organisations
Non-profit community organisations can access interpreters that are available from Language Services of the Community Relations Commission.
When accessing an interpreter from Language Services of the Community Relations Commission, non-profit community organisations should note that it is NSW government policy that the Community Relations Commission does not provide free interpreting services to organisations that are funded by the state government. However, in some cases, non-profit community organisations may be eligible for a case-by-case exemption from payment for an interpreter from Language Services. To find out more about the policy on exemptions contact Language Services on 1300 651 5000.
Non-profit community agencies that do not charge people for their service may access TIS free of charge, with some restrictions. Agencies seeking to establish their entitlement to the free services should contact TIS.
In some cases non-profit community organisations may be able to access Health Care Interpreter Service (HCIS) free of charge, although this largely depends on their availability. Contact should be made with their respective Area Health Service Interpreter Service.
Legal Aid Commission
The Legal Aid Commission provides a budget for interpreters for client interviews. It is important when making an appointment to let the LAC know that an interpreter will be required. |
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Community Legal Centres
Community Legal Centres may be eligible for a case-by-case exemption from payment for an interpreter from Language Services of the Community Relations Commission, for services rendered at their agencies. Such organisations should note that it is NSW government policy that the Community Relations Commission does not provide free interpreting services to organisations that are funded by the state government.
Private solicitors
Solicitors should ensure that court official's book an interpreter for the defendant for Court appearances in order to avoid the solicitor's firm being charged for the service rendered at the court. The party making the booking for witnesses or the defendant's out of court interviews will be charged for the service. | Health system
Doctors, social workers and other professionals employed by the health system should contact their Area Health Service Interpreter Service. The HCIS is free to staff in the public health system- Private doctors may access TIS interpreters free of charge for Medicare related items but not for workers compensation items.
Individuals
It is not the role or responsibility of individuals to book or pay for interpreters when dealing with NSW government agencies but rather the responsibility of government agencies. As a matter of course, individuals dealing with government agencies should ask those agencies to arrange an interpreter. |
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Emergency Line - DIMIA
This emergency line is an interpreting service of the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The line is used by emergency services such as NSW Police, where an interpreter is needed immediately.
1300 655 030
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