The Department of Human Services (DHS) marked International Translation Day last week (30 September) by showcasing the work of its translating team.
In a statement, the Department said its Interpreting and Translating Centre (ITC) was crucial to many Agencies, communities and individuals throughout the State.
It said the ITC Translations Team was made up of 100 translators working in more than 100 languages and dialects, together translating more than 600,000 words per year.
The DHS said the Team’s work was used in every aspect of life, including: Driver’s licences; legal documents such as wills, marriage certificates; and professional qualifications.
It said the ITC also regularly provided translations for export labels, menus and even certified English subtitles for television commercials before they could go to air.
The Department said that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ITC translators had worked closely with SA Health to provide essential translated documents to the State’s culturally and linguistically diverse society.
The DHS said one of the more unusual jobs the ITC translators performed was the translation of tattoos for South Australia Police (SAPOL).
“SA Police will not allow an officer to display a foreign text tattoo unless they provide a certified translation of their tattoo to ensure that the text is not offensive in any way,” it said.
The Department said the dedicated team of translators and customer service officers were committed to their craft and delivering quality translations for the benefit of the community.
