An international symposium is being organised from 1-2 April 2016, at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, on Interpreter Training and Humanitarian Interpreting.

Here is the organizers’ description.

“The work of interpreters in the 21st century is characterised by a need to adapt to many different contexts and modalities of work. One of these is the humanitarian context: in conflict zones, in disaster zones, or in refugee camps for example, interpreters have to cope with specific demands and realities. How do interpreters respond to them? How are they prepared to face them? What policies are put in place to help and protect them?

This two-day symposium will look at the challenges and difficulties posed by such contexts of work and presentations will offer diverse perspectives on these and other related questions. This symposium is intended for not only practitioners, trainers and researchers, but also end-users, policy makers, representatives of NGOs, and stakeholders from the full spectrum of industries involved in relevant areas. The invited speakers are all experts in distinct but complementary fields which are fundamental to this important area of the professional work of interpreters which is now attracting greater attention and visibility.”

For more information, including about keynote speakers, see the conference website here.