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While Auslan interpreting is a relatively recent as a profession, interpreting has been going on for as long as there have been Deaf people here in WA. Those early interpreters were often family, or teachers and missionaries employed by Deaf Societies and Deaf schools. From humble beginnings where practitioners were often kind hearted volunteers, interpreting is an emerging profession with tertiary qualifications, national certifications, professional associations and a Code of Ethics.
The earliest record of an interpreter in the Swan River Colony. Mr William Silas Pearse was called to act as an interpreter at the Criminal Court on 21 April 1898 for a deaf witness, Martin Fannon.
Late 1800s Missioners interpret for their deaf parishioners.
Early 1900s Teachers of the Deaf interpret for their students.
1907 The Evening Mail reports 'The unique spectacle of a deaf and dumb litigant appeared in the Perth Local Court. An interpreter was found in one of the court's clerks'.
1935 John Love (Superintendent of the school for deaf children) interprets the wedding of Elsie Doyle and Bernard Martin at West Leederville Methodist Church. Mr Love is noted many times as being the interpreter for Deaf community events during the time he was at the deaf school from 1927-1955.
1936 The first record of a Deaf Interpreter working in a Perth court room. The West Australian reports that the Deaf complainant used sign language, and the interpreter could only fingerspell, so another Deaf person interpreted between sign language and fingerspelling between the complainant and interpreter.
1950s Welfare Officers interpret for their deaf clients.
1977 The National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) is established. They are responsible for the testing and certification of translators and interpreters for all languages.
1980s Welfare Officer and Interpreter become separate roles.
1984 The first NAATI Level 2 Para-professional Accreditation (Australian Deaf Sign Language) is conducted in WA.
1986 The first Diploma of Interpreting course is established at Perth TAFE (now North Metropolitan TAFE) formalising the training of sign language interpreters.
1989 The first register of sign language interpreters in WA is established by the WA Deaf Society. There are six interpreters on the register.
1990 The Association of WA Interpreters of the Deaf (AWAID) is formed to assist qualified interpreters in maintaining skills and developing a code of professional conduct. The name is later changed to AASLI (WA) and then ASLIA (WA) when a National body is established in 1991.
1991 Auslan is recognised as a ‘community language other than English’ in policy statements by the Australian government.
1992 NAATI introduces the first Code of Ethics for translators and interpreters.
1995 Interpreting Advisory Group established which includes ASLIA (WA), WAAD, WADS, TAFE, WADRA and consumers.
2000 Central TAFE runs the Advanced Diploma of Interpreting, training para-professional interpreters to attain Level 3 Professional Interpreter accreditation by NAATI. A Diploma of Interpreting specifically for Deaf Interpreters is also delivered.
2002 Macquarie University establish a post-graduate Diploma of Auslan/English interpreting. It is run externally, allowing interpreters in WA to receive post graduate training and a pathway to Professional Interpreter accreditation.
2013 The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme allows Deaf people to expand the settings where interpreters are commonly booked. Interpreters are now available to interpret in any sphere of a Deaf person's life.
2014 NAATI adds Deaf Interpreters to their Accreditation system, allowing Deaf Interpreters to attain NAATI Recognition in 5 different skill areas, acknowledging this hidden sector of interpreting.
2015 NAATI adds Conference Interpreter Accreditation for Auslan-English interpreters.
2018 NAATI undergoes a significant change from an Accreditation system to a Certification system.
2020 The coronavirus pandemic normalises the provision of Auslan interpreting during emergency announcements.
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