Olivia and Danni – Auslan and Deaf interpreters

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My name is Olivia and I'm an Auslan interpreter.

Anything that a hearing person does, a Deaf person needs access to as well.

As a community interpreter, I do a lot of jobs in hospitals, doctor’s appointments parent-teacher interviews, weddings, funerals, workplace meetings.

Having an interpreter there to provide that equal access for equal opportunities is really important.

I started my training to become an Auslan interpreter with some community courses, just learning the basics of the language and then I moved on to accredited courses through the TAFE system.

And later, when the organisation that I worked for became a registered training organisation, I studied the Diploma of Interpreting through them and became qualified shortly after.

So my name is Danni Deaf interpreting is a really valuable, rewarding role.

To provide communication access is the most important role to make sure that the Deaf person and the Deaf community understand.

They're not just giving the deaf nod and a thumbs up and walking away feeling depressed about it.

We wanna make sure that they understand and are comfortable with the information.

To have an interpreter there for smooth, beautiful communication alleviates a lot of stress.

Once I finish a job as the Deaf interpreter it's really great to see that the client understands completely what's been going on and it really makes me feel good.

I use two languages every day and that's not just professionally.

That's in my friendships and relationships that I've built through the community as well.

The positive impact my work has on me is to see the Deaf community participating within the hearing community and not having any barriers.

It makes me feel really good to see that happy.

It also makes me feel really good seeing the client feel really good about that too to make sure that everyone's happy.

This line of work's had a really positive impact on my life.

It means that I get to go to work and do something that I love every day.

You get to communicate with and interpret for amazing people every day.

I love seeing the difference that equal access to language and communication makes in Deaf people's lives.

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