Required skills

communication skills to

identify and plan for assignment requirements

commence discourses according to established protocols

manage communication flow in a sensitive and effective manner

discourse management skills to

accommodate communication styles and preferences in discourse management

analyse discourse settings and communication preferences and adapt style accordingly

initiative and enterprise skills to adapt to new and varied assignment situations

interpersonal skills to

interact with people from a range of social cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of communication needs

confirm assignment requirements and difficulties with clients and colleagues

seek assistance from clients specialist advisers and peers

interact with a range of participants with confidence and cultural sensitivity

language skills to achieve competent performance given setting of discourses

literacy skills to prepare required background material and resources

organisational skills to identify and prepare work environment

problemsolving skills to

assess barriers to effective communication and negotiate solutions

change conditions to enhance message transfer and interpreter comfort and safety

maintain effective communication flow in challenging situations

selfmanagement skills to

apply code of conduct and legislative requirements to work processes

deflect pressure from other parties to perform duties other than interpreting

evaluate performance according to client expectations

behave professionally in all situations including in emergencies and with time pressures

identify personal and professional limitations in managing discourse

seek debriefing and support where required

technology skills to use a range of technical and electronic equipment where necessary

Required knowledge

communication techniques that facilitate communication flow and discourse management

culturespecific knowledge to

arrange work environment

confirm relationships between and with parties

identify factors affecting communication flow

strategies and techniques for working with people with special communication needs

language structure dialects and idioms in source and target languages

discourse management issues strategies and techniques

relevant codes of ethics

legal requirements professional procedures and guidelines ethical practices and business standards relating to assignment including

confidentiality requirements

privacy legislation

limitations of work role responsibility and professional abilities

nature and structure of interpersonal institutional and meeting dynamics

OHS and risk management practices and procedures relevant to nature of assignment

professional support networks including peer help groups and mentors

source and target languages to achieve competent performance given setting of discourses

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria look for evidence that confirms the candidates ability to manage the physical setting and pace of discourses in general settings This includes

identifying and analysing assignment requirements and resources and the need for additional information

planning in order to anticipate factors that may impact interpreting in general discourse settings

Supporting parties to understand and reaching agreement with parties on the interpreting process

Directing participants in a respectful and professional manner to maximise communication flow

Identifying communication challenges from crosscultural and participant attributes and using appropriate strategies to address them

Identifying personal and professional limitations and challenging situations and seeking assistance to address them

complying with professional standards and codes

reflecting on practice and using opportunities to improve practice

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Evidence for assessment of this unit of competency will make use of scenarios case studies experiences and where possible examples of interactions with colleagues and clients which illustrate a range of skills and strategies for managing discourses in general settings

Resources for assessment include

a range of clients and environments where preparation for assignments requires familiarity with assignment to plan and identify resource needs

discourses which require general and routine concepts including community and cultural protocols and familiar procedures

settings which allow a range of capacity to influence meeting processes and communication flow

discourses which include parties with a range of experience with interpreting and its protocols and conventions

observations and questioning of candidates interpreting in settings which require a range of techniques to address issues affecting communication flow

Evidence for assessment should be gathered to demonstrate a range of experiences in managing discourses in general settings Evidence could include examples of negotiations with client and participant expectations using the resources of professional associations or employers and should also include evidence of decision making where there are high levels of risk in ethical business and professional issues influencing decisions

Requirements may include:

Planning may include for:

Arranging work environment may include:

Resources may include:

Factors that may compromise interpreter effectiveness may include:

Adjustments may include:

Relationships between and with participants may include:

Protocols to commence discourse may include:

Attributes may include:

Communication style may include:

Factors affecting communication flow may include:

Strategies may include:

Challenging situations may include:

Appropriate persons may include: