This module aims to create an opportunity to explore and reflect on the range of factors that come together to support our work with interpreters.
Module Duration: 2 hours
By taking the time to do this, we can:
- discover useful ways to approach our work with interpreters
- reflect on system level factors that help and hinder our work with interpreters
- learn from lived experience of consumers and carers
- appreciate the roles of both interpreters and practitioners within the interpreting encounter
This module is designed for all of us who work in mental health settings, as working with interpreters involves the whole sector – that is the workforce and systems – including: administrative staff, managers, quality officers, practitioners, lived and living experience workers, interpreters etc. as well as policies, guidelines, funding, advocacy, etc.
We hope the module helps us to find ways to respect, listen, negotiate, include, reflect and hold patience in the interpreting encounter that appreciates the nuances of this important work.
This module is divided into Four sections, which provide a snapshot of some of the key practices, strategies and learnings to support our work with interpreters. These sections can be completed in order, or you can select individual sessions to suit your learning need:
- Section 1: Setting the scene for working with Interpreters (30 minutes)
- Explores the inter-connections between working with interpreters for culturally responsive practice; provides an overview of the policy context and history of interpreter services in Australia; introduces the role of an interpreter, the accreditation process, and different credentialing of interpreters in Australia; and provides practical organisational strategies for supporting access to interpreters in mental health settings.
- Section 2: Understanding the many perspectives in the interpreted encounter (40 minutes)
- Deep dives into both the unique, and common experiences that interpreters, consumers, carers and mental health workers face when working collaboratively; provides examples of common practice challenges and possible ways mental health workers can work with these.
- Section 3: A 4 Step Approach to Working with Interpreters (40 minutes)
- Offers a 4-step approach that can guide the interpreted encounter. This approached considers everything from the information needed to book an interpreter; how to brief and debrief with an interpreter and what to cover when doing so; and the many ways power is present in the interpreted encounter, and what this means for the parties involved.
- Section 4: Where to from here? Resources and further learning (10 minutes)
- Provides links further develop your practice with interpreters, including downloadable resources from the “Approaching work with interpreters in mental health settings’ Project (VTMH, 2019), , references and workshop opportunities