Multicultural NSW has launched a scholarship program for community members from Ukraine to become fully qualified interpreters.
Announced by Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, the program responds to the need for additional interpreters as more people escape to NSW from the war in Ukraine.
“Before Multicultural NSW facilitated the scholarship program, only three people nationwide could be called on to support those from Ukraine to overcome language barriers—now, there are 21,” Mr Coure said.
“Multicultural NSW coordinated an expression of interest, where 18 people were then given the opportunity to use their language skills to help those coming into the state, while also gaining employment in the process,” he said.
“Thanks to these people sharing their language skills with us, we have strengthened both NSW’s and the entire nation’s interpreting capabilities to support those from Ukraine.”
Mr Coure said the 18 people who successfully completed the scholarship program had now been employed on Multicultural NSW’s nation-leading expert panel of translators and interpreters.
He said part of the scholarship program included mentoring and professional development with the Agency over the next 12 months.
“Thanks to these people sharing their language skills with us, we have strengthened both NSW’s and the entire nation’s interpreting capabilities to support those from Ukraine,” the Minister said.
He said Multicultural NSW’s language services team worked with industry body National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) to develop the bespoke accreditation program to fast-track the interpreters.
