VicRoads currently uses the interpreting services of Victorian Interpreter and Translating Services (VITS) to assist in licence or learner permit tests. VITS is located at:
Level 1
371 Spencer Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Tel: (03) 9280 1955
Fax: (03) 9280 1960
e-mail vits@vits.com.au
Under no circumstances are friends or relatives of the applicant or VicRoads officers to act as interpreters for a knowledge or practical test.
They may assist with making bookings, application forms, translating overseas licences or assisting with the eyesight test if they are not facing the test charts.
Hearing impaired and speech impaired clients use a telephone with a typewriter keyboard (TTY) to communicate with other TTY telephones.
For registration and licensing enquiries clients with a TTY can call VicRoads on 1300 652 321 (TTY).
Interpreters are generally not to be provided for:
The Computerised Licence Test (CLT) in any of the 19 languages available, or
Tests in a dialect not covered by National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) accreditation (if a dialect is not accredited, the test should be conducted in the parent language).
However, if the applicant has learning difficulties, or is unable to comprehend the language available on CLT, an interpreter may be used.
Auslan interpreters are also available for people with a hearing disability.
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An interpreter's credentials and identity must be verified before commencement of any test. Interpreters must be:
NAATI accredited (formerly - level 3) unless the language is unavailable at this level, or
recognised by NAATI as an interpreter.
NAATI accredited interpreters are issued with an applicant or candidate number. If confirmation of an interpreter's credentials is required contact NAATI and quote the applicant or candidate number.
NAATI is the only body in Australia authorised to provide testing and accreditation for interpreters and translators.
NAATI accreditation may be obtained on the basis of:
success in a NAATI test;
successful completion of a NAATI approved Australian course of training;
possession of overseas qualifications deemed by NAATI to be equivalent.
Where accreditation is in place for a language, an 'Interpreter' (level 3) must be requested.
|
Level |
Formerly |
Competence |
| Not accredited |
Level 1 |
No formal testing of ability has occurred. |
Para-professional interpreter
Para-professional translator |
Level 2 |
Minimum level of competence (can translate interviews or conversations and simple documents) |
Interpreter
Translator |
Level 3 |
Professional level for interpreting & translating documents. |
Conference Interpreter
Advanced Translator |
Level 4 |
Professional technical interpreter/translator. |
Conference senior interpreter
Advanced Senior Translator |
Level 5 |
Highest level |
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If there is no accreditation for a language, but NAATI offers recognition of overseas qualifications then VicRoads will accept this 'recognition'. Interpreters/translators practising in rare languages, to whom accreditation is not available through the above accreditation process, are eligible for recognition by NAATI.
Recognition does not have the same status as accreditation as there is no opportunity to assess to a performance standard.
NAATI can be located at:
Suite 14
Lonsdale Court
600 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
Tel (03) 9642 3301
Fax: (03) 9642 3303
Documents in foreign languages must be accompanied by an English translation. Applicants holding foreign language documents must have them translated into English at their own cost.
Translation of foreign documents must be completed by:
- a NAATI accredited (any level) translator, or
- an official translation from the country of origin, or
- appropriate consulate in Australia.
An International Driver Permit is acceptable as a translation of a driver licence.