
Becoming an Auslan interpreter
Find useful information to begin your journey in becoming a qualified Auslan interpreter.
To become an Auslan-English interpreter, you must first be fluent in both Auslan and English.
If you are interested in becoming an Auslan-English interpreter, you may need to begin learning Auslan from scratch. Alternatively, you may already have some level of Auslan fluency because of relationships with Deaf and hard-of-hearing family members or friends.
You need to find an Auslan course to start your language learning journey.
There are a number of unaccredited community courses on offer that you can complete in person or online. These are short courses and will teach you the basics of Auslan. These courses alone will not get you to the level of fluency required to be an interpreter, but they are a great introduction to Auslan.
If you want to become fluent in Auslan in a structured learning environment, an accredited course is the best way to achieve this goal.
The Diploma of Auslan is delivered by a TAFE institute or Registered Training Orgranisation. The Diploma of Auslan typically requires 2 years full time study and usually provides most learners with some level of Auslan proficiency.
It is important to recognise that fluency in Auslan will continue to develop over time, long after the completion of the Diploma of Auslan. This is true when learning any language.
The typical path to becoming an interpreter then involves completion of a Diploma of Interpreting.
Once you are fluent in Auslan and have completed some training to become an interpreter, you may then apply to NAATI for certification.
You may be able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in the Diploma of Auslan, or you may apply for direct entry into the Diploma of Interpreting.
You may also need to spend considerable time within the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, immersed in their language and culture.
See more information about NAATI certification. (Opens in new window.)