improving the quality of mental health interpreting in victoria

undertake such interpreter training and to promote interpreting as a career.
RMIT will enter a partnership with training developers to meet Victorian Qualifications
Authority (VQA) criteria for establishing and developing a course through RMIT.
The process for establishing the recommended training according to State level Office of
Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE), Department of Education and Training - Victoria
requirements and VQA is straightforward. The VTPU recommends the establishment of a
new component, within an existing unit in the Advanced Diploma in Interpreting and
Translating at RMIT, is the domain of the training institution. According to VQA, the
appropriate authority for a new unit recognition is through the establishment by RMIT of a
‘Steering Committee’ with relevant collaborators (e.g. VTPU) to develop the curriculum and
module that is to be offered. This is then recognised through the VQA and is listed on the
National Training Information Service.
Once the unit is added to RMIT’s Advanced Diploma in Interpreting and Translating, RMIT
has the ability to offer any of their units/modules as short courses. The short course option
would serve the needs of interpreters who are already trained and who wish to undertake
training in mental health interpreting.
Other training options include the pursuit of a NAATI accredited course in Mental Health
Interpreting, which would also require financial support for curriculum development and
module delivery.
Recommendation 2.1
It is recommended that DHS integrates into existing DHS language service structures
consultation with Mental Health Interpreting Reference Group coordinated by the
VTPU.
DHS existing structures that are able to develop and support work on mental health
interpreting - such as the Ministerial Advisory Council on Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
(MAC C&LD), language services working group and contributors to the Mental Health
Cultural Diversity Strategy - should be encouraged to draw on the established expertise of
the Mental Health Interpreting Reference Group through consultations with the VTPU.
State Government should support the establishment of the following training pathways:
Recommendation 2.2
It is recommended that the State Government supports the establishment a
Professional Development Program for existing professional Level 3 interpreters. The
development of such a component should begin as soon as practicable.
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