Interpreting domestic violence
A public forum at Monash will feature a leading international researcher, addressing the issue of domestic violence and the provision of interpreting services for victims of domestic violence
The event, Domestic Violence & Interpreting: A National Forum will run over two days in late September. Professor Maribel del Pozo Triviño, University of Vigo, Spain, is keynote speaker of the first day and will provide cross-national perspectives on domestic violence and interpreting. Further, she will present findings from a major international research project, ‘Speak Out for Support’ that will inform specialised training for interpreters working with domestic violence victims/survivors.
The forum is led by the Monash Faculty of Arts Translation & Interpreting Studies Program and brings together researchers from translation and interpreting, gender violence, criminology, social work and psychiatry. The forum also features presentations from a Melbourne Magistrate, practising interpreters (both spoken and signed-language), providers of services for the victims of domestic violence, and inTouch, the Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence.
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, Director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatric Research Centre, is keynote speaker for the second day and will highlight the various mental health issues facing sufferers of domestic violence from a cross-cultural perspective.
The forum’s organiser Dr Jim Hlavac from the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics said the forum addressed an issue that has recently gained greater prominence in the media and at governmental level. “Interpreters are experiencing an increase of work in this area. There need to be protocols that relate to interpreting in this area and an understanding of the dynamics that can pertain in these situations. We’re privileged to have an international researcher who will report on a comprehensive, international project, and who will present guidelines for the training of interpreters working in this area. It is important that interpreters also familiarise themselves with the perspectives of the interlocutors with whom they work: the Victoria police, providers of services for the victims of domestic violence, the judiciary and policymakers. Further, the forum will provide a high-level discussion of the conceptualisation of domestic violence, and how social and legal changes have led to policies and services that we have now.”
The forum addresses an issue prioritised by the Victorian State Government, as seen through the recent appointment of Australia’s first ever Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and through the establishment of the Victoria Police Family Violence Command.
The forum will be officially opened by Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services. Mr Matthew Ryan, Operations Superintendent, Victoria Police Family Violence Command will also address the forum.
The forum will feature a variety of different perspectives and is targeted at practising professional interpreters, those employed in the languages services industry, researchers and policy-makers in language services and domestic violence, and for organisations providing services to the victims of domestic violence and their families.
The response to this forum has been overwhelming. All 150 places for the forum have been booked and further attendees will be placed on a waiting list. Please contact Dr Jim Hlavac for further information. Jim.Hlavac@monash.edu
Domestic Violence & Interpreting: A National Forumwill be held at the Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne from 10am to 4:30pm Thursday September 24, and from 9:15 to 4pm Friday September 25.
Day One of the Domestic Violence & Interpreting Forum is sponsored by VITS, Victorian Interpreting & Translating Service.