International Translation Day, 30 September, is celebrated every year on the feast day of St. Jerome, the catholic Bible translator considered to be the patron saint of translators.
This year’s theme, United in translation, aims to showcase the important role professional translators play in connecting nations and individuals to build understanding and foster development.
At Monash Health, it is an opportunity to highlight the important work that our Monash Health Language Services (MHLS) delivers to ensure equal access and high-quality services to our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community members.
MHLS is the largest in-house language service in Victoria with a team of 62 staff interpreters, covering more than 30 top requested languages. Last financial year 108,000 interpreting sessions were provided in more than 100 languages across the whole continuum of care.
Over the last 18 months, COVID-19 has transformed the language services industry to rapidly adopt digital technologies and tools to reduce the disruption of daily operations and continue to support our diverse communities.
Despite the challenges faced, interpreters have played a pivotal role in minimising the risk of COVID-19 amongst the CALD population. Individuals with limited English proficiency don’t have the language and literacy skills to understand and respond to important pandemic-related information. In the last three months, MHLS provided interpreters to 5,170 vaccine recipients at Monash Health vaccination clinics.
MHLS have also facilitated translations of a wide range of patient information including COVID-19 related pamphlets, brochures, posters and instructions for patients and visitors to Monash Health sites.
Monash Health interpreters have been essential facilitators of the provision of safe and effective care and have been honoured to work alongside our frontline health workers.
To all Monash Health Language Services staff, Happy International Translation Day!
Approved by Kate Hockings.