Issue 53 August 2021

This newsletter comes shortly after the June newsletter, owing to important information to share on a number of issues.

Interpreter Co-ordinator role advertised

Sadly I am leaving the role of Interpreter Co-ordinator. I’m not going far though, I’m now the manager of the Support Services team at the Refugee Status Unit (which includes the Interpreter Co-ordinator role). The role has been advertised and applications close on Tuesday 24 August 2021.

I have really enjoyed working with you all over the years, and will still take a keen interest in the interpreter role in my new position.

Language Assistance Services Programme: update

The face to face interpreting panel members will be announced shortly. I encourage you to shop around for the Language Service Provider who will provide the best deal for you.

This announcement will be published on the Language Assistance Services section of the MBIE website. 

Face to face interpreting service

Are you receiving the Language Assistance Services monthly newsletter? To subscribe, email LAS@mbie.govt.nz with the subject ‘Subscribe’.

Studying at AUT

Calling all those currently working as interpreters in New Zealand!

Study at AUT and get one step closer to taking a NAATI interpreter certification test!

From 1 July 2024 all interpreters working for government agencies or government funded agencies will be expected to be on the NAATI certification framework. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is, therefore, supporting all interpreters working in New Zealand to become NAATI certified over the next 3 years.

This means that from Semester 2 2021, you can take either one or both of the following AUT interpreting courses online and after successful completion sit a NAATI interpreter test at the level appropriate to you.

TRIN603 Interpreter role, ethics and practice(external link)

TRIN604 Societal contexts for interpreters and translators(external link)

With MBIE’s support, interpreters will be able to take one or both of these courses' (depending on their qualification needs) fees free.

To enrol, please email Amelia Joubert at amelia.joubert@aut.ac.nz

Semester 2 has already started so think about enrolling next year. Attendees can take the courses online if they prefer.

Red Cross looking for cross cultural workers

The Red Cross is looking for cross cultural workers in Dari/Farsi, Somali, Burmese and Spanish. Please can you forward this to the wider community and anyone who is interested in joining the journey with Red Cross Whanau.

Applications close at 5pm on 27 August 2021.

COVID-19 vaccine updates

Important update to kindly note and share with your networks (where appropriate): 

COVID-19 vaccination: Group 4 - 55+ underway   

As of Friday 6 August 2021 New Zealanders aged 55 plus will be able to go to BookMyVaccine.nz to make their vaccine appointments.

Book My Vaccine(external link) —  Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora

Because of the great response from the earlier groups, we are now in position to open the 55 to 59 age band for vaccinations. The 55 to 59 years age band includes approximately 300,000 New Zealanders.

Calling 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) is another way in which you can get support to make your appointment. Interpreters are available if needed.

Good to know: The vaccine is free to everyone (over 16 years), regardless of your visa status. There are no animal products in this vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA-based (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine. It does not contain any live, dead or deactivated viruses.     

COVID-19 vaccination support for the older Asian population

Asian Health Services (AHS) has been working with the Albany community COVID vaccination clinic to support the vaccination of older Asian people (aged over 60) who have access barriers. If you or your whānau would like to use this service, please contact Asian Health Services on 09 442-3232 for the next group bookings. 

COVID-19 resources

How to book your free COVID-19 vaccine appointment(external link) (including information in over 35 languages) — Unite against COVID-19

Vaccine supply story(external link) — Ministry of Health NZ

COVID-19 vaccine facts and advice(external link) — Unite against COVID-19

Translations(external link) — Unite against COVID-19

Translations(external link) — Northern Regional Health Coordination Centre

Other updates

Free breast screen for eligible women

Breast Screening Auckland Central (BSAC) and Waitematā DHB’s Asian Health Services (AHS) are working together to support Asian Women for their regular mammogram. 

The Asian Health Services Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean speaking staff directly enrol women in the free national BreastScreen Aotearoa programme, and Chinese and Korean group clinics are held 3 times a week at the new BSAC service, 308 Great South Road, to provide cultural and interpreting support. 

Clinic locations(external link) — Time to Screen

Japanese Community Seminar

Asian Health Services (WDHB) are working with the police and Japanese society to provide a community health seminar to increase awareness on mental health and suicide prevention.

Topics: 'Nurturing your mind' and 'Safer community and safer home'
When: 1 September 2021, 10am to 12pm
Where: Albany Community Hub , 575 Albany Highway, Albany

News and events(external link) — Asian Health Services (WDHB)

Inaugural Ethnic Women's Awards 2021

Nominations are now open for the Inaugural Ethnic Women's Awards 2021 (6 award categories).

Nominations close at 5pm, Friday 20 August 2021.

Inaugural Ethnic Women's Awards(external link) — Nixcrew Trust Incorporated 

New home for Interpreter reference resources

Interpreters have their own resource page which has many useful tools, such as immigration and refugee related terminology.

Interpreters online toolkit

Rare languages

Recently we have been searching for interpreters in:

• Mongolian
• Kiribati
• Tokelauan
• Nuiean
• Malay
• Kinyarwanda
• Rohingya
• Tigrinya
• Turkish
• Tongan
• Samoan
• Bengali
• Tamil (Sri Lankan)
• Burmese, Kayah and China
• Cambodian/Khmer
• Fijian
• Te Reo Māori
• Ndebele
• Pashto           
• Swahili
• Tagalog
• Luganda
• Igbo
• Amharic

If you know anyone who interprets one of these, or another rare language, please ask them to get in touch with me. We have over 100 languages on our list, but it’s still not enough!

This year we needed interpreters in 35 different languages, ranging from Arabic and Mandarin to Mongolian and Malay. Thank you all for your contribution!

Glossaries

Refugee and protection claims based on a person’s religion or beliefs are common. The terms used by some religious groups can be unfamiliar, or carry a special meaning.

To help with your preparation for these types of interviews we have added some new glossaries to the Interpreters online toolkit page. These glossaries include Falun Gong and Church of Almighty God which is specifically for interpreters of Chinese languages.

If you feel there are any other areas that would benefit from a glossary being created please let us know. 

Interpreters online toolkit

On the same page, under ‘Further self-study’, you can find feedback from our interpreter dilemma training.