Foreword
The Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal (the tribunals) are committed to providing a service to applicants that is open, accessible, and sensitive to their needs. The provision of professional interpreting services greatly assists the tribunals in both delivering such a service and meeting overall objectives of providing a mechanism of review which is fair, just, economical, informal and quick.
Interpreters play a critical role in the review process in terms of ensuring that an applicant is given an effective opportunity to appear before the tribunals to present arguments and to give evidence. Interpreting that is accurate, impartial and professional is essential for the tribunals to gain a full understanding of an applicant’s claims and evidence.
The Interpreters’ Handbook (the handbook) sets out the tribunals’ requirements and information about the specialised nature of the tribunals’ work. The handbook covers the procedural aspects of the hearing and describes the roles and responsibilities of interpreters.
The handbook has been developed primarily as guidance for interpreters who provide, or intend to provide, interpreting services to the tribunals. It is hoped that it will also be of interest and useful to the wider community.
This is the second edition of the handbook. I thank all those who contributed to its development
Denis O’Brien
Principal Member
30 September 2011