Translation, Interpreting and Language courses

Auslan courses offer you an opportunity to connect with the Deaf community and make a difference by understanding and opening lines of communication.

Professional Auslan interpreters allow Auslan users to remain independent¹ and by studying an Auslan course you will work towards creating an inclusive environment for people who may not otherwise be heard.

¹ https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/publications-articles/policy-research/report-on-supply-and-demand-for-auslan-interpreters?HTML

At TAFE NSW, we offer you two nationally recognised Auslan courses, the Certificate II in Auslan and the Certificate III in Auslan.

If you are interested in becoming an interpreter, we have 7 different Diploma of Interpreting courses on offer. These diploma courses are designed for professional communicators, who are seeking interpreter jobs and want to help people be heard and understood in different settings. These interpreting courses include Mandarin-English, Korean-English, Arabic-English, LOTE-English, Vietnamese-English, Spanish-English and Cantonese-English.

Depending on the level of Auslan course you choose you will learn to:

• Communicate in casual and formal conversations, from social events to employment, education and medical scenarios
• Sign with a degree of fluency and spontaneity
• Build relationships with the Deaf community
• Communicate independently within the Deaf community

There is a difference between translator and interpreter. Essentially, translators translate writing and text. The role of a language interpreter is to translate spoken language in real time.

Unfortunately, we don’t offer courses in translation at TAFE NSW but we do offer the Diploma of Interpreting. This diploma prepares you for interpreter jobs in health, welfare and community services, education and social settings and tourism. You’ll also be ready to use your skills in community information services, informal business and workplace interactions and in non-complex disability assistance.

To become an interpreter in Australia, you must be fluent in English and another language (this could include Auslan).

To become a certified provisional interpreter, complete the Diploma of Interpreting. To become a certified interpreter, you will need to complete an Advanced Diploma of Interpreting.

At its core translation, interpreting and Auslan are about communication and these skilled communicators are always in high demand.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics² there are over 300 separately identified languages spoken in Australian homes, with more than 21% of Australians speaking a language other than English at home. The most common languages spoken at home were Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese, and TAFE NSW offers all of these in languages as options in our Diploma of Interpreting course.

² ABS Census Reveals a Fast Changing, Culturally Diverse Nation