NAATI Australian Institutional Settings (Legal, Health and Government Services) — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In an Australian courtroom, who is the interpreter's primary duty owed to?
- The party who booked and paid for the interpreter
- The court, through accurate and impartial interpreting (Correct answer)
- The non-English-speaking witness, as their advocate
- The prosecution
Correct answer: The court, through accurate and impartial interpreting
Court interpreters serve the court. They must interpret accurately and impartially, whoever pays them, and must not advocate for any party.
Question 2: Which Australian Government service provides free interpreting to people with limited English and to eligible agencies and businesses?
- Centrelink Language Line
- The Australian Language Bureau
- NAATI Direct
- TIS National (Translating and Interpreting Service) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: TIS National (Translating and Interpreting Service)
TIS National is run by the Department of Home Affairs. It provides phone, video and on-site interpreting, and many credentialed practitioners take assignments through it.
Question 3: In a hospital, a doctor asks the interpreter to explain a procedure to the patient on the doctor's behalf after the doctor leaves the room. What should the interpreter do?
- Explain the procedure from their own knowledge
- Explain only the parts they are confident about
- Politely decline, because giving medical information is outside the interpreter's role, and ask that the doctor or another clinician be present (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient's family to explain it instead
Correct answer: Politely decline, because giving medical information is outside the interpreter's role, and ask that the doctor or another clinician be present
Interpreters render communication between parties. They do not give information on a professional's behalf. Explaining a procedure alone would go beyond their role and could create clinical and legal risk.
Question 4: In an Australian legal setting, what is an 'affidavit'?
- A written statement of facts that the person swears or affirms to be true (Correct answer)
- A verbal agreement made between lawyers
- A court order releasing someone on bail
- A summary of the judge's decision
Correct answer: A written statement of facts that the person swears or affirms to be true
An affidavit is a sworn or affirmed written statement used as evidence. When one is made in another language, an interpreter or translator may need to swear or affirm that they rendered it accurately.
Question 5: During a police interview in Australia, what is the interpreter's correct practice?
- Summarise long answers to save time
- Interpret everything said, including cautions and rights, accurately and in the first person (Correct answer)
- Advise the suspect whether to answer each question
- Leave out offensive language to keep the interview professional
Correct answer: Interpret everything said, including cautions and rights, accurately and in the first person
Police interviews can become evidence, so complete and accurate first-person interpreting is essential, including the formal caution. Summarising, giving advice or toning down language all compromise the record.
Question 6: When interpreting in a government social services setting, such as a welfare or housing appointment, which practice is most appropriate?
- Help the client fill in forms based on what you think they mean
- Tell the officer what the client probably needs
- Interpret faithfully between the officer and the client and leave decisions to them (Correct answer)
- Share the client's details with community members who might help
Correct answer: Interpret faithfully between the officer and the client and leave decisions to them
In public service settings the interpreter enables communication and keeps impartiality and confidentiality. Decisions, advice and form-filling stay with the service provider and the client.
