Responsibility: Australian, state and territory governments
Joint Response: Accept in principle
Status: In progress
What has been achieved to date
This work will be progressed as part of the Associated Plan being developed in response to recommendation 6.1.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
The Australian Government and state and territory governments, through the Disability Reform Ministerial Council, should commission the development of a workforce strategy to increase the number and quality of Auslan interpreters.
The strategy should:
- be based on a robust demand-supply analysis to quantify the current gaps and shortages in interpreting services. This includes analysis of qualifications, specialisations, geographic coverage, and the availability and use of face-to-face interpreting and Video Remote Interpreting
- include costed initiatives to:
- increase the number of Auslan interpreters, including the provision of scholarships and stable ongoing employment opportunities, particularly in under-serviced areas
- support specialisations in health, legal and other critical sectors (including minimum qualifications)
- provide ongoing professional development and industry standards to support a high-quality interpreter workforce
- increase and retain Auslan interpreters who are First Nations or from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- raise awareness and promote pathways to becoming an Auslan interpreter.
The strategy should be developed by September 2024, and implementation of the strategy should begin by January 2025.
Joint Government response July 2024
The Australian Government and state and territory governments recognise the critical role Auslan interpreters play in supporting people who are Deaf or hard of hearing to access the information and communications they need. Governments also recognise Deaf interpreters and translators who support people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds or are more familiar with foreign sign languages, people with sensory or cognitive disability, people who are educationally or linguistically disadvantaged, or people who have limited conventional Auslan.
All governments support nationally coordinated work to boost the Auslan and Deaf interpreter workforce. As part of its work developing an Associated Plan under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 to improve the accessibility of information and communications for people with disability consistent with recommendation 6.1, the Disability Reform Ministerial Council will consider strategies, initiatives and approaches to boost the Auslan and Deaf interpreter workforce.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.