NAATI pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of this land and speakers of its first languages. In the spirit of reconciliation, NAATI acknowledges the richness that Indigenous, signed and all languages bring to Australia and the role interpreters and translators play in connecting us all.
NAATI recognises that Australia has been multicultural and multilingual since people first inhabited the land. We acknowledge that policies and injustices since colonisation have led to the endangerment of this land’s first languages, with many now dormant. NAATI believes that supporting and strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages is an important aspect of moving towards a reconciled Australia.
Having strong interpreters available is a key aspect of upholding the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to communicate in their languages. Part of NAATI’s mission is to enable a supply of certified translators and interpreters responsive to the changing needs and demography of Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse society. We enable this for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through our Indigenous Interpreting Project. The project delivers targeted support to aspiring and practising interpreters in Indigenous communities across Australia to become certified and join a national group of language professionals. As of 31 December 2023, there were 102 interpreters certified in 28 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
NAATI’s vision is for a connected community without language barriers and reconciliation is a vital part of this. We are proud to be continuing our reconciliation journey with a second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) from 2024; our first Innovate RAP. The foundations built during our Reflect RAP since 2021 have given us a great starting point for this next step. NAATI will continue to work alongside stakeholders to strengthen and promote Indigenous interpreting. We are committed to promoting reconciliation with our wide network of practitioners and partners in the language services sector. NAATI recognises that there is a long path to language access parity and NAATI commits to ongoing pursuit of the right to language for all.
