Deaf Relay Interpreters

Deaf relay interpreters work with clients who:

  • Have minimal skills in Auslan, due to educational or linguistic disadvantage, or
  • Have minimal skills in Auslan, due to intellectual disability, or
  • Have minimal skills in Auslan, having recently migrated to Australia, or
  • Are Deafblind

Deaf relay interpreters work in teams with Hearing interpreters in order to facilitate communication.
 
As with Hearing interpreters Deaf relay interpreters cannot fulfill other roles (e.g. community worker or advocate) whilst in their interpreting role. The SLC Interpreting Service determines the need for Relay Interpreters based on the information and/or request from the hearing interpreter who has worked with the Deaf or hard of hearing person. SLC members interpreting services also rely on information received from deafness professionals or from first-hand experience of the Deaf or hard of hearing person in question.
 
The Australian Sign Language Interpreting Association (ASLIA) has established a professional code of ethics that all qualified interpreters must follow. One of the principals within the code of ethics is that interpreters shall accept interpreting assignments based on their skill level and type of situation. SLC assigns only interpreters qualified with an appropriate level of skill and competency to courtroom and related proceedings. If at anytime during the interpreting assignment the Deaf Relay Interpreter feels that he/she has a hearing qualified interpreter who is not able to accurately interpret for him/her and the client, s/he may request to work with an alternate hearing interpreter and vice versa. The code of ethics applies equally in all aspects to Deaf Relay Interpreters and hearing qualified interpreters.
 
For any further information regarding Deaf Relay Interpreters, please do not hesitate to contact your relevant SLC member.
 
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