NAATI

. NAATI is the acronym for the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

. NAATI is a public independent company, partially funded jointly by the Federal, State and Territory governments.

. NAATI is also an advisory body, producing annually a Directory of Accredited and Recognised Interpreters and Translators (a book and computer disk package).  This enables agencies, businesses and government organisations to locate suitably qualified interpreters and translators.

. The main objective of NAATI is to set and monitor the professional standards for interpreters and translators in Australia.  NAATI accreditation is the only accepted qualification in Australia for the profession of interpreting and translation.   Individuals wishing to work as interpreters and translators generally find it difficult to do so if they are not accredited by NAATI.  The NAATI system of accreditation will be considerably strengthened in the future with the introduction of a system of registration of interpreters and translators, based on NAATI accreditation.  When registration is introduced, employers will be encouraged to use only registered interpreters and translators.

. NAATI accreditation may be obtained in three ways:

(a) by passing a NAATI examination; (b) by successfully completing a course of studies delivered by tertiary institutions in Australia and approved by NAATI. Candidates must provide a copy of their certificate from the institution concerned as evidence of their successful completion of a course; (c) by providing evidence of qualifications in interpreting and/or translating gained overseas which are judged by the Authority to be equivalent to the standards required by it for Translator, Conference Interpreter/ Advanced Translator, and Conference Interpreter (Senior) and Advanced Translator (Senior). Candidates must provide documentary evidence required by the Qualifications and Assessment Advisory Committee.

THE NAATI LEVELS OF ACCREDITATION

The NAATI system of accreditation identifies four levels of competence. These are:

Paraprofessional Interpreter
This is a paraprofessional level and represents a level of competence in interpreting for the purpose of general conversations.

Paraprofessional Interpreters generally undertake the interpretation of non-specialist dialogues. Practitioners at this level are expected to proceed to the professional levels of accreditation.

Paraprofessional Translator
This represents a level of competence in translation for the purpose of producing a translated version of uncomplicated information.

Accreditation or Recognition as a Paraprofessional Translator was discontinued on 31 December 1994 except for languages of special community need, e.g. for recent immigrant and refugee arrivals, and for Aboriginal languages.

Interpreter
This is the first professional level and represents the minimum level of competence for professional interpreting.

Interpreters at this level are capable of interpreting across a wide range of subjects involving dialogues at specialist consultations. They are capable of interpreting presentations by the consecutive mode. Their specialisations may include banking, the law, health, and social and community services.

Translator
This is the first professional level and represents the minimum level of competence for professional translating of general or specialised information requiring particular accuracy.

Translators at this level work across the same range of subjects as interpreters and they too may choose to specialise. They are qualified to translate into one language only or into both languages, depending upon their accreditation.

Conference Interpreter
This is the advanced professional level and represents the competence to handle complex/ technical/sophisticated interpreting.

Conference Interpreters practise both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting in diverse situations, including at conferences high level negotiations, and court proceedings. Conference Interpreters operate at levels compatible with recognised international standards, and may choose to specialise in certain areas.

Advanced Translator
This is the advanced professional level and represents the competence to handle complex/ technical/sophisticated translation.

Advanced Translators handle complex/technical/sophisticated material, compatible with recognised international standards. They too may choose to specialise in certain areas. Advanced Translators are accredited to translate into either one language only or into both languages, depending upon their accreditation.

Conference Interpreter (Senior) and Advanced Translator (Senior)
Practitioners at this senior level are Conference Interpreters and Advanced Translators with a level of excellence in their field, recognised through demonstrated extensive experience and leadership.

FACTS ABOUT NAATI

. NAATI is a well-established Authority in Australia, that provides an important service; namely the setting and monitoring of national standards for the interpreting and translation profession. . NAATI is the cornerstone of the I/T profession. . NAATI is a national organisation with a head office in Canberra and eight state/territory offices, one in each state/territory capital city. . In addition to administrative staff, NAATI contracts more than 250 examiners on a part-time basis to set, mark, and produce its examinations. . NAATI has received more than 30,000 applications for accreditation as a translator, interpreter, or language aide. . Each person who applies for accreditation does so for approximately 2.8 accreditations, that is, for interpreting and translation in one or more languages. . NAATI is able to test in 46 languages which supports approximately 98% of the public demand for 1/T services. . Since 1987, NAATI has offered tests in a minimum of 27 languages per year at various levels. In 1995, 40 languages were offered. . NAATI issues approximately 9,000 invitations per year for testing of which approximately 3,000 accept. . In the last two years NAATI has received more than 2,200 new applicants per year who have requested approximately 5,700 tests. . NAATI keeps a cumulative register of all accredited interpreters and translators. . NAATI publishes an annual Directory of Accredited and Recognised Practitioners of Interpreting and Translation. This Directory is an important information source for employers. . In addition to conducting the national program of examinations, NAATI also assesses and monitors 14 NAATI-approved interpreting and translation courses currently offered at Australian tertiary institutions. . NAATI assesses all applications for accreditation on the basis of overseas qualifications and maintains a register of I/T courses at more than 80 overseas institutions.

NAATI ADDRESSES

ACT Suite 1, Playoust Building, Hawker ACT 2614 Postal address: PO Box 40, Hawker ACT 2614 Tel: (06) 255 1888 Fax: (06) 255 1889 NSW Level 2, 60 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000 Postal address: GPO Box 4588, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 299 4144 Fax: (02) 299 4806 NT PO Box 418, Darwin NT 0801 Tel: (089) 413 405 Fax: (089) 855 622 QLD c/- Bureau of Ethnic Affairs 120 Main St, Kangaroo Point Qld 4169 Postal address: PO Box 8179, Woolloongabba Qld 4102 Tel: (07) 3393 1358 Fax: (07) 3393 0745 SA Eighth Floor, 170 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000 Tel: (08) 410 5233 Fax: (08) 410 5235 TAS Room 128, Hampden House Community Centre 82 Hampden Rd, Battery Point Tas 7004 Tel: (002) 236 534 Fax: (002) 254 427 VIC Suite 16, The Clivedon, 596 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne Vic 3004 Tel: (03) 9529 8101 Fax: (03) 9529 8101 WA Suite 4, 3 Lawrence Ave, West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (09) 322 7874 Fax: (09) 322 7878

Back to MAKNET >
Surf Victoria, Australia with VICNET > Macedonian Matters around the World >