improving the quality of mental health interpreting in victoria

completed by 64 interpreters, recruited through AUSIT and VicDeaf databases. More than
90% of interpreters expressed interest in receiving mental health interpreting training.
Topics preferred by more than 70% of respondents included interpreting in psychotherapy,
and in crisis situations, introduction to major mental disorders, and abnormal illness
behaviour. The majority acknowledged the need for debriefing opportunities, indicated they
had never been offered debriefing, and would prefer to receive it from a mental health
clinician. Interpreters indicated the need for mental health services to brief interpreters
before interviews and to address interpreter safety issues.
Consumer consultation recommended involvement of consumers in development and
delivery of mental health interpreting training to familiarise interpreters with the experience
of working with consumers.
The research findings informed the development of a series of recommendations regarding
curriculum and training strategies for interpreters working in mental health settings. The
recommendations are for four potential pathways to training:
I. Establish a Mental Health Interpreting Component within an existing course at RMIT
University (Melbourne) for interpreters enrolled in NAATI Level 3 training.
II. Establish a Professional Development Program for experienced NAATI Level 3
interpreters.
III. Establish an Advanced Course within an Advanced Diploma of Translating &
Interpreting, training institution: specialised training for NAATI Level 3 interpreters and
above.
IV. Establish an introductory Mental Health Interpreting component within an existing
course at RMIT University (Melbourne) to meet needs of para-professional level
interpreters in emerging community languages.
Recommendations are also made regarding curriculum content and development; training
administration; funding; rural, regional and systemic issues; an interpreter register; and
training of mental health staff. These are all issues that are integral considerations for future
initiatives in curriculum and training developments for mental health interpreting in Victoria.
Overall, the project demonstrated that there is renewed recognition that the field of mental
health interpreting involves specialist skills, which need to be built on the competencies
required for professional interpreting. To enable these specialist skills to be developed all
key stakeholders have acknowledged the need to develop relevant curriculum and training
programs, and have made clear and feasible recommendations for their development.
The Victorian State Government is committed to improving the current situation of mental
health interpreting in Victoria. In order to give substance to this commitment government
support is required for development of curriculum and establishment of training programs
for interpreters in MHI. In Victoria, with a population characterised by remarkable cultural
and linguistic diversity, the provision of high quality interpreting services must be seen as
an essential component of the investment in mental health service provision. Such high
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