❓ Analysis of a Western Australian Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the implementation of the WA Languages Services Policy across the Agriculture and Food, Forestry, and Corrective Services portfolios. The responses reveal varying levels of policy implementation and tracking of expenditure.
AnsweredQoN 6483Legislative Assembly
Asked
1 November 2011
Member
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Corrective Services
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Western Australian Languages Services Policy, launched by Premier Colin Barnett in 2008, which states that Government agencies are required to have policies for funding and delivering translating and interpreting services that take account of relevant Government policy, legal circumstances and the needs of potential and current clients, I ask:
(a) what policies in each agency in the Minister’s departments have been implemented, and when;
(b) what funding and expenditure has been incurred since 2008 on translation and interpreting services by which agencies and to whom was the funding paid;
(c) can the Minister please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Minister please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
(a) what policies in each agency in the Minister’s departments have been implemented, and when;
(b) what funding and expenditure has been incurred since 2008 on translation and interpreting services by which agencies and to whom was the funding paid;
(c) can the Minister please table all policies which have been produced and are readily available to agency staff and clients; and
(d) in each agency, can the Minister please list which situations have been identified where interpreters and translators must, should or may be used?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Corrective Services
Response time
29 days
Department of Agriculture and Food
(a) DAFWA has long recognised the importance of translating and interpreting services, and has used such services as part of its normal business. The policy basis for this is provided by way of the following:
· Customer Service - General Policy - Policy No. 02.01.01 (est.1999)
· Customer Communication and Consultation - Policy No. 02.02.01 (est. 1999)
· Substantive Equality in Service Delivery - Policy No. 02.02.07 (est. 2006)
DAFWA's
Substantive Equality in Service Delivery
policy requires staff to ensure that all agricultural programs identify and address the service needs of all members of client groups and work towards meeting those needs. This includes identifying and engaging appropriate interpreter or translation services. The policy is implemented across the Department.
(b) Funding for translating and interpreting services is ascribed at the project level on a case-by-case as a part of DAFWA's normal business. It is not individually identified as a line item in the Department's financial records.
In some instances - such as the Indigenous Landholder Service - translational and interpretative services are attained by appointing staff with particular language (and cultural) affiliations.
(c) [See tabled paper no.]
(d) Interpretative and translation services are used as a standard element of DAFWA's technology transfer and extension 'toolkit', particularly in its work with indigenous, immigrant and international clients and stakeholders.
Forest Products Commission
(a) While no policy has been implemented the Forest Products Commission if required will provide appropriate interpreting and translating services for any of its clients who are unable to communicate effectively in English. .
(b) Nil.
(c)-(d) Not applicable.
Department of Corrective Services
(a) The Department of Corrective Services Language Services Policy and Practical Guidelines 2002 which was implemented in 2002.
(b) [See tabled paper no.]
(c) [See tabled paper no.]
(d) Interpreters and translators may be utilised in situations where:
· prison staff have identified prisoners who have limited or no capacity to communicate in English. This may include, but is not limited to, prison orientation, medical assessments and case management meetings. It has also been used to ensure persons are aware of their legal rights and other circumstances when necessary to communicate information.
· youth detention staff have identified a young person or a member of their family who may have limited or no capacity to communicate in English. This may include, but is not limited to, detention centre orientation, individual and family interviews and meetings, case management sessions and assessments and the provision of education.
· adult community corrections officers and youth justice services officers who are working with adult offenders and young people and their families who may have limited or no capacity to communicate in English. This may include, but is not limited to, pre-sentence and court report interviews, case management and supervision sessions and juvenile justice team meetings.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(a) DAFWA has long recognised the importance of translating and interpreting services, and has used such services as part of its normal business. The policy basis for this is provided by way of the following:
· Customer Service - General Policy - Policy No. 02.01.01 (est.1999)
· Customer Communication and Consultation - Policy No. 02.02.01 (est. 1999)
· Substantive Equality in Service Delivery - Policy No. 02.02.07 (est. 2006)
DAFWA's
Substantive Equality in Service Delivery
policy requires staff to ensure that all agricultural programs identify and address the service needs of all members of client groups and work towards meeting those needs. This includes identifying and engaging appropriate interpreter or translation services. The policy is implemented across the Department.
(b) Funding for translating and interpreting services is ascribed at the project level on a case-by-case as a part of DAFWA's normal business. It is not individually identified as a line item in the Department's financial records.
In some instances - such as the Indigenous Landholder Service - translational and interpretative services are attained by appointing staff with particular language (and cultural) affiliations.
(c) [See tabled paper no.]
(d) Interpretative and translation services are used as a standard element of DAFWA's technology transfer and extension 'toolkit', particularly in its work with indigenous, immigrant and international clients and stakeholders.
Forest Products Commission
(a) While no policy has been implemented the Forest Products Commission if required will provide appropriate interpreting and translating services for any of its clients who are unable to communicate effectively in English. .
(b) Nil.
(c)-(d) Not applicable.
Department of Corrective Services
(a) The Department of Corrective Services Language Services Policy and Practical Guidelines 2002 which was implemented in 2002.
(b) [See tabled paper no.]
(c) [See tabled paper no.]
(d) Interpreters and translators may be utilised in situations where:
· prison staff have identified prisoners who have limited or no capacity to communicate in English. This may include, but is not limited to, prison orientation, medical assessments and case management meetings. It has also been used to ensure persons are aware of their legal rights and other circumstances when necessary to communicate information.
· youth detention staff have identified a young person or a member of their family who may have limited or no capacity to communicate in English. This may include, but is not limited to, detention centre orientation, individual and family interviews and meetings, case management sessions and assessments and the provision of education.
· adult community corrections officers and youth justice services officers who are working with adult offenders and young people and their families who may have limited or no capacity to communicate in English. This may include, but is not limited to, pre-sentence and court report interviews, case management and supervision sessions and juvenile justice team meetings.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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