Interpreting & Translating
‘Open, two-way communication strategies, built on policies and practices within a school, are fundamental to building trusting relationships...Regular use of trained interpreters and translation of written communication by schools ensures an inclusive and respectful environment for parents.’
(The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc. 2015)
CECV
Guidelines for the Use of Interpreting and Translating Service for Catholic Schools in Victoria
All schools need to consider their obligation to make important information available to families and to provide access to accredited translation and interpreting services.
These guidelines provide information about access to funding, dependent on eligibility for NA and/or Refugee Funding or for non-funded schools. Schools are free to choose their own accredited service provider but VITS Language Loop (government school provider) offers interpreting via onsite, VC or phone.
DET Victoria
Interpreting and Translation
Department policy re requirements and available services relating to communicating with parents/carers who require interpreting and translation assistance. Includes information under Resources re. accessing:
VITS LanguageLoop service provider
LanguageLoop Welcome Kit
19 school notices in 37 languages
Tips for parents on starting school, starting secondary school and in final years of secondary school in 37 languages.
DET Victoria Information for Parents
Webpage content for parents is translated into 109 languages.
Includes information re:
Advice and multilingual flyers for parents and schools on the benefits of being bilingual and speaking to your child in the language you know best.
DET Victoria - Use an Interpreter
Information for schools re working with VITS LanguageLoop accredited interpreters via onsite, video conference or phone.
NB:
DET Victoria has a contract with the Victorian Interpreting and Translation Service (VITS LanguageLoop) to provide qualified and accredited interpreting services, so this service is free for government schools.
Catholic schools are not contracted to use a specific service provider but it is important to ensure that interpreters are qualified and accredited. See CECV Guidelines to Interpreting and Translating for funding eligibility.
The role of multilingual aides and interpreters VCAA EAL
Bilingual educators and multilingual aides and interpreters play a vital role in the maintenance and development of childrens’ home language and English as an additional language (EAL). Their role is not just in facilitating communication with families and the broader community. Their cultural knowledge can be tapped into to inform the teaching program.
Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc.)
Working with schools in Victoria to enhance the educational outcomes for students of refugee backgrounds.
Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc.) Early Years Program
The Early Years Program seeks to explore the barriers and enablers to inclusion, and to develop strategies to promote full inclusion of families from refugee backgrounds through:
The provision of resources, professional learning opportunities and consultancy
Place-based collaborative projects to establish meaningful dialogue between community members and representatives from the early childhood sector
Collaborative projects with local and state-wide early childhood education and service providers
Tip sheets on:
Building partnerships with families from refugee backgrounds
Working effectively with interpreters to support families from refugee backgrounds
Schools and Families in partnership: A Desktop Guide to Engaging Families from Refugee Backgrounds in their Children’s Learning.
Talking in Tune series
Working with interpreters in schools
A guide to working with interpreters in the school setting. The video consists of seven scenarios designed to highlight common pitfalls and effective strategies when working with interpreters. It suggests ways of avoiding these pitfalls to enable successful communication with parents or guardians. User guide also available.
VITS LanguageLoop
Multilingual flyer for schools: Do you need an Interpreter?
All Graduates
Interpreting and Translation Service Provider offering interpreting via onsite and telephone. Offers LIME multilingual messaging that provides a pre-recorded multilingual audio service so that CALD parents can listen to school documents in the language they know best on any digital platform.
TIS
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) provides interpreting services to people who do not speak English and to agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients. These services enable non-English speakers to independently access services and information in Australia.
Over 3000 interpreters across Australia in more than 160 different languages are available.
Non-English speakers can access immediate telephone interpreters through TIS National by calling 131 450.