‘I like helping people’: Panayiotis Paras on being a qualified interpreter in NSW

·

The pool of language professionals in New South Wales has grown substantially over the past four years due to the NSW Government’s Multicultural NSW Interpreting Scholarship Program

Panayiotis Psaras successfully completed the program and is now a certified provisional interpreter in Sydney.

The Greek Herald spoke with Mr Psaras about the program and the importance of having skills such as interpreting and knowing two languages. 

The scholarship was the first time Mr Psaras had applied for an interpreter program. Mr Psaras finished high school in Cyprus and was efficient in the Greek language. But after migrating to Australia and taking part in the NSW Government’s interpreter program, Mr Psaras said he has broadened his language skillset.

“The program was a pathway that would give us a qualification to do work for Multicultural NSW. I was very happy to do it as it’s something that really interests me and in general, I like helping other people with or without pay,” Mr Psaras told The Greek Herald.

As a qualified interpreter for Multicultural NSW, Mr Psaras assists and translates for people in the community. According to the latest census data, NSW has the second largest Greek and Cypriot populations in the country after Victoria, while the Greek language is one of the top ten widely spoken in Australia other than English. 

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, said the program empowers people to use their language skills as a career and help their communities access government information and services. The scholarship also helps to fill language shortages.

“Everyone who completes the program and attains their certification can join our expert panel of language professionals,” Minister Coure said in a press release.

Mr Psaras found the course to be interesting with a good pace. In particular, he valued the emphasis on the importance of confidentially when working with people as an interpreter, throughout the program. 

“A very important thing they stress in the course is the ethical part, which is part of the interpreter’s ethic part,” he said.

“Whatever you do and interpret, you’re supposed to keep everything to yourself, so you make people feel more comfortable whether it’s a paid job or as a volunteer.”

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Greek Australian councillors vote in move to change ‘racist’ Moreland council name

Councillors Angelica Panopoulos and Lambros Tapinos voted successfully to rename Moreland Council, while Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos voted against the motion.

Greece’s Foreign Minister calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Greece's Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, called for an "immediate and lasting cessation of hostilities" in Gaza.

Greek ferry crew declare strike after tragic death of passenger in Piraeus Port

The Panhellenic Seamen's Federation declared a 24-hour set to immobilize all ships across the Greece on Wednesday, September 13.