We are a group of hardworking interpreters and translators who love what we do, but are struggling to survive on our current wages. We play an essential role in connecting people together, and ensuring that all Australians can navigate the necessary services to participate in society. But our stagnant wages are undermining our ability to do our job.

Across Australia, interpreters and translators have been struggling for decades to make ends meet. Now, with rising cost of living pressures, many of us have reached breaking point.

This is why we are calling on both government and private sector employers to pay translators and interpreters a liveable wage.

The lack of job security in our field of work has had a devastating impact on our mental health and wellbeing, as private agencies compete with each other to reduce rates. 

Our day to day survival is in the hands of government agencies and private service providers, who have the liberty to drop our wages, change our working conditions and undermine our jobs at the drop of a hat. We are finding it incredibly stressful to keep doing our jobs under these conditions.

Recently, the service provider OnCall Interpreters & Translators have taken over Centrelink’s sessional work. Now, casual interpreters will likely be paid far less than they were two years ago.

Please stand alongside us, an undervalued and underpaid workforce, who give so much to our communities.

It’s time to join together and say no to discrimination against interpreters and translators. 

Thank you all