❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the implementation and funding of the Western Australian Languages Services Policy across various government agencies, revealing inconsistencies in policy adoption and expenditure.
AnsweredQoN 6478Legislative Assembly
Asked
1 November 2011
Member
Portfolio
Planning; Culture and the Arts; Science and Innovation
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
29 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Planning; Culture and the Arts; Science and Innovation
Response time
28 days
Department of Planning
(a) Since the Department of Planning's (DoP's) commencement in July 2009, the DoP has developed a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) which has been endorsed by the Disability Services Commission [See tabled paper no....]. The DAIP identifies the development of a Language Services Policy as a priority action for the DoP. The DoP also has a Substantive Equality Policy which recognises the need to actively engage with and understand its customers and stakeholders who are from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds and to review service delivery to identify where practices, policies and procedures could be made more accessible and appropriate for CALD and Indigenous groups.
(b) The DoP has not made any payments for interpretive services in the period from 2008 to 2011.
(c) The Department of Planning's DAIP and Substantive Equality Policy is attached. [See tabled paper no...].
(d) No situations have arisen to date where an interpreter has been required. Should a situation arise, then appropriate action would be taken in order for the business of the agency and the client to be satisfactorily achieved.
Department for Culture and the Arts
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) The Department currently budgets $2000 per annum for any translation or transcribing requests. There have been 4 language translation requests since 2008 at a cost of $64.88 which was paid to the Association for the Blind.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
State Records Office
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
ScreenWest
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
Perth Theatre Trust
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian
Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
Western Australian Museum
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) $2863.18 total was paid to the WA Deaf Society, TISWA, Korea Link and Silvia Maria Kinder.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors;
Non-English speaking partners/clients - negotiating contracts including travelling exhibitions and loan agreements;
Interpretation of exhibitions by non - English speaking visitors;
Indigenous visitors;
Communicating with remote Indigenous communities;
Vision Impaired Visitors;
Hearing Impaired visitors;
Customer comments/complaints; and
Meetings with staff with English as their second language.
Armadale Redevelopment Authority
(a) Nil.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Nil.
East Perth Redevelopment Authority/Subiaco Redevelopment Authority
(a) No formal policies have been implemented within EPRA and SRA, however the Agencies' practices ensure translating and interpreting services align with the Western Australian Languages Services Policy (2008). These practices include responding to the needs of clients who are unable to communicate effectively in spoken or written English and translating where necessary documents and brochures in line with the minimum standards outlined in the Western Australian Language Services Policy (2008).
(b) EPRA has incurred $10,128 on translating and interpreting services, paid by the Agency since 2008.
(c) Not applicable. EPRA and SRA do not have any formal policies in relation to funding and delivering translating and interpreting services.
(d) Interpreters and translators:
- must be used by EPRA and SRA in situations where those who cannot communicate in English may not have the same opportunities as those who can (for example international markets).
- should be used by EPRA and SRA in situations where the interests of non-English speaking people may be impacted (and it is line with the Western Australian Languages Services Policy to do so).
Midland Redevelopment Authority
(a) Nil.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Nil.
LandCorp
(a) - (d) Refer to response to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 6472 submitted by the Minister for Regional Development; Lands.
Department of Commerce - Science and Innovation Division
(a) The Department of Commerce's Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2007-2012 (Outcome 3) and Substantive Equality Policy 2009 outline the department's commitment to accessibility of services. The department does not have a provision of translating and interpreting services funding policy, but allocates funds from projects and business areas, as required, to meet the department's accessibility commitments.
(b) Refer to response to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 6475 for response.
(c) [See tabled paper no....]; and [See tabled paper no....].
(d) The Department of Commerce identifies the need for interpreters and translators in accordance with the Western Australian Language Services Policy, specifically identifying when interpreters or translators must, should or may be used depending on:
· The client's ability to communicate in English;
· The purpose of the communication and the kind of information, including its complexity that needs to be conveyed;
· The client's ability to effectively communicate in a stressful or unfamiliar environment;
· Whether the client prefers to communicate in his/her own language, even though he/she can communicate in English; and
· The risks of miscommunication and the potential for legal liability or legal consequences for the State of Western Australia, its agencies or instrumentalities.
ChemCentre
(a) Language Services Policy is due for implementation by end of November 2011.
(d) Nil.
(e) [See tabled paper no....].
(d) Where people seeking services have trouble communicating in spoken or written English, including people who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, indigenous and/or hearing impaired or deaf.
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(a) Since the Department of Planning's (DoP's) commencement in July 2009, the DoP has developed a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) which has been endorsed by the Disability Services Commission [See tabled paper no....]. The DAIP identifies the development of a Language Services Policy as a priority action for the DoP. The DoP also has a Substantive Equality Policy which recognises the need to actively engage with and understand its customers and stakeholders who are from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds and to review service delivery to identify where practices, policies and procedures could be made more accessible and appropriate for CALD and Indigenous groups.
(b) The DoP has not made any payments for interpretive services in the period from 2008 to 2011.
(c) The Department of Planning's DAIP and Substantive Equality Policy is attached. [See tabled paper no...].
(d) No situations have arisen to date where an interpreter has been required. Should a situation arise, then appropriate action would be taken in order for the business of the agency and the client to be satisfactorily achieved.
Department for Culture and the Arts
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) The Department currently budgets $2000 per annum for any translation or transcribing requests. There have been 4 language translation requests since 2008 at a cost of $64.88 which was paid to the Association for the Blind.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
State Records Office
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
ScreenWest
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
Perth Theatre Trust
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian
Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) Nil.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors or clients;
Vision impaired visitors or clients; and
Hearing impaired visitors or clients.
Western Australian Museum
(a) The Department of Culture and the Arts placed the Western Australian Language Services Policy on their intranet in 2008.
(b) $2863.18 total was paid to the WA Deaf Society, TISWA, Korea Link and Silvia Maria Kinder.
(c) None.
(d) Non-English speaking visitors;
Non-English speaking partners/clients - negotiating contracts including travelling exhibitions and loan agreements;
Interpretation of exhibitions by non - English speaking visitors;
Indigenous visitors;
Communicating with remote Indigenous communities;
Vision Impaired Visitors;
Hearing Impaired visitors;
Customer comments/complaints; and
Meetings with staff with English as their second language.
Armadale Redevelopment Authority
(a) Nil.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Nil.
East Perth Redevelopment Authority/Subiaco Redevelopment Authority
(a) No formal policies have been implemented within EPRA and SRA, however the Agencies' practices ensure translating and interpreting services align with the Western Australian Languages Services Policy (2008). These practices include responding to the needs of clients who are unable to communicate effectively in spoken or written English and translating where necessary documents and brochures in line with the minimum standards outlined in the Western Australian Language Services Policy (2008).
(b) EPRA has incurred $10,128 on translating and interpreting services, paid by the Agency since 2008.
(c) Not applicable. EPRA and SRA do not have any formal policies in relation to funding and delivering translating and interpreting services.
(d) Interpreters and translators:
- must be used by EPRA and SRA in situations where those who cannot communicate in English may not have the same opportunities as those who can (for example international markets).
- should be used by EPRA and SRA in situations where the interests of non-English speaking people may be impacted (and it is line with the Western Australian Languages Services Policy to do so).
Midland Redevelopment Authority
(a) Nil.
(b) Nil.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Nil.
LandCorp
(a) - (d) Refer to response to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 6472 submitted by the Minister for Regional Development; Lands.
Department of Commerce - Science and Innovation Division
(a) The Department of Commerce's Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2007-2012 (Outcome 3) and Substantive Equality Policy 2009 outline the department's commitment to accessibility of services. The department does not have a provision of translating and interpreting services funding policy, but allocates funds from projects and business areas, as required, to meet the department's accessibility commitments.
(b) Refer to response to Legislative Assembly Question on Notice 6475 for response.
(c) [See tabled paper no....]; and [See tabled paper no....].
(d) The Department of Commerce identifies the need for interpreters and translators in accordance with the Western Australian Language Services Policy, specifically identifying when interpreters or translators must, should or may be used depending on:
· The client's ability to communicate in English;
· The purpose of the communication and the kind of information, including its complexity that needs to be conveyed;
· The client's ability to effectively communicate in a stressful or unfamiliar environment;
· Whether the client prefers to communicate in his/her own language, even though he/she can communicate in English; and
· The risks of miscommunication and the potential for legal liability or legal consequences for the State of Western Australia, its agencies or instrumentalities.
ChemCentre
(a) Language Services Policy is due for implementation by end of November 2011.
(d) Nil.
(e) [See tabled paper no....].
(d) Where people seeking services have trouble communicating in spoken or written English, including people who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, indigenous and/or hearing impaired or deaf.
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