Research

Research is fundamental to VITS' Good Corporate Citizen Program. Funds from the GCCP are made available for research projects associated with the Language Service industry and the needs of the linguistically and culturally diverse community.

Research is commissioned as required and provides valuable insight on the industry, the professionals that work within it and the CALD communities that require these services.

Research allows VITS LanguageLink to:

• Evaluate the industry and view the progression.
• Highlight topical issues within the landscape.
• Promote a call to action for new ideas and concepts.
• Encourage professional development.
• Identify the shortfalls in the market and remedy any potential supply and demand issues.

But most importantly, research is fundamental to VITS operations as it gives us the opportunity to create and deliver more defined services for our clients and the Victorian community.

Pivotal Projects to date

Language_Solutions_(Dr._Uldis_Ozolin): Survey of Interpreting Practitioners, March 2004.

This project was designed to understand the psychology of interpreters as practitioners and where they identified their own greatest strengths and weaknesses and what obstacles the profession could remove for those professionals wanting to further develop their career.

VITS_LanguageLink: Proposed model for Self-Regulation for Interpreters and Translators.

Establishing a system of self-regulation for Interpreting and Translating Professionals is paramount for those who work within the industry and this discussion paper demonstrates the acceptance of such a body for the profession. A self-regulatory body would promote the Code of Conduct, encouragement of the professioanal development and further accreditation (and provide easy access to achieve this) but also give professionals an avenue to voice concerns.