Ms WALKER - 2010-06-10
Can you outline the important work undertaken by the Aboriginal Interpreter Service and how this service supports Indigenous Territorians who have English as a second language?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. It is a very important day today. We had the Aboriginal Interpreter Service come to Parliament House during the lunch break to celebrate 10 years of service across the Northern Territory. In the Territory, around 75% of Indigenous Territorians speak a language other than English as their first language.
When the service first began, there were only two staff and a number of interpreters. Today, we are talking about interpreters who cover more than 100 languages across the Northern Territory, around 6000 jobs per year, and employ over 370 interpreters on a casual basis.
I would like to pay tribute especially to Colleen Rosas who heads up the Aboriginal Interpreter Service and is doing a remarkable job with our interpreters across the regions. She is not just there organising and coordinating our interpreters, but assisting them in some of the personal and emotional difficulties interpreters face, be it in the court system or the health system. When we recall the history of the Aboriginal Interpreter Service, I would have to say it took a great many years before the government of the day wanted to look at even having an Aboriginal Interpreter Service with the federal government. In fact, I also pay tribute to the then Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Dawn Lawrie, who was a significant part of putting together the interpreter service in the push for a service across the Northern Territory, and the many other people who were a part of that.
The service is also helping government today with A Working Future policy across the 20 growth towns, and it is fantastic to see we are able to move forward with the identity of the Northern Territory, including Aboriginal languages as we go. It is a unique position compared to the states across Australia, and it is something this government can be very proud of.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nhulunbuy for her question. It is a very important day today. We had the Aboriginal Interpreter Service come to Parliament House during the lunch break to celebrate 10 years of service across the Northern Territory. In the Territory, around 75% of Indigenous Territorians speak a language other than English as their first language.
When the service first began, there were only two staff and a number of interpreters. Today, we are talking about interpreters who cover more than 100 languages across the Northern Territory, around 6000 jobs per year, and employ over 370 interpreters on a casual basis.
I would like to pay tribute especially to Colleen Rosas who heads up the Aboriginal Interpreter Service and is doing a remarkable job with our interpreters across the regions. She is not just there organising and coordinating our interpreters, but assisting them in some of the personal and emotional difficulties interpreters face, be it in the court system or the health system. When we recall the history of the Aboriginal Interpreter Service, I would have to say it took a great many years before the government of the day wanted to look at even having an Aboriginal Interpreter Service with the federal government. In fact, I also pay tribute to the then Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Dawn Lawrie, who was a significant part of putting together the interpreter service in the push for a service across the Northern Territory, and the many other people who were a part of that.
The service is also helping government today with A Working Future policy across the 20 growth towns, and it is fantastic to see we are able to move forward with the identity of the Northern Territory, including Aboriginal languages as we go. It is a unique position compared to the states across Australia, and it is something this government can be very proud of.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016