The NSW Government has appointed a new specialist careers adviser, tasked with showcasing the job opportunities available to the state’s multi-lingual youth while boosting its interpreting and translating ranks.
A first of its kind role in Australia, the adviser will work closely with students fluent in languages other than English across secondary and community language schools, as well as universities; detailing the opportunities to work as interpreters and translators.
Chief Executive of SydWest Multicultural Services, Elfa Moraitakis says the new initiative is a great investment in the state’s multicultural future.
“Speaking a second language myself and being very passionate about language and culture, I’m very pleased to see this level of investment given to increasing the opportunities for young people to use these skills as a profession.”
“By recognising the importance of speaking another language, it gives our youth a sense of pride and belonging. It’s a skill not easily obtained, and a great thing to see that it’s being appreciated and valued,” Ms Moraitakis explains.
Over the last four years, the NSW Government has provided more than 400 scholarships to budding interpreters in an initiative covering more than 55 languages.
In December they announced that HSC language students that achieve a Band 6 score in targeted extension languages would be eligible for the scholarships.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure says the new role will be a “big win” for multi-lingual youngsters and his Government’s language services.
“The Government are committed to supporting our multicultural state. To do that, we need to increase our interpreting ranks, especially with people that speak languages from new and emerging communities that weren’t prevalent a decade or so ago,” he notes.
“Through the new adviser, we’ll be able to strengthen our language services as well as connect young people with opportunities that are available owing to their fluency in another language; whether as a professional interpreter, or as a means to earn money while undertaking their studies.”
Identified students will have the opportunity to secure a partial or full interpreting and translating scholarship, where those who complete the program can access employment, mentoring and professional development opportunities with Multicultural NSW.
“While this will give opportunities to people to find employment using their language skills, it will also mean we have more people to call on to help make sure our services and information are accessible to everyone.”
To find out more about the NSW Government’s language services and Interpreting Scholarship Program, visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au.