Guidelines to the Language Allowance Program (LAP) June 2007

Transcription

1 Deprtment of Humn Services Guidelines to the Lnguge Allownce Progrm (LAP) June

2 1. Overview In 1996 the Victorin Public Sector (VPS) Lnguge Allownce ws introduced. It provides slry llownce to bilingul VPS stff who use lnguge other thn English in their dy-to-dy work with the Victorin public. The Deprtment of Humn Services (DHS) ctively supports the Victorin Government in its commitment to ensuring tht the inbility to spek English doesn t limit or prevent people from ccessing the services they need. The deprtment encourges stff with skills in lnguges other thn English (LOTE), to seek ccredittion. 2. Who is eligible to pply for n llownce? To receive the Lnguge Allownce, stff will be required to meet ll of the following criteri: o Be employed under Prt 3 of the Public Administrtion Act 2004, which covers deprtmentl employees nd employees of certin sttutory bodies (VPS nd HACSU stff). Undertke work involving direct contct with spekers of the lnguge other thn English (LOTE) spoken by the stff member, including Ausln. Exmples of these positions could include receptionists, telephonists, informtion officers, field officers nd socil workers. Prt-time nd temporry stff will be eligible on pro-rt bsis; nd Pssed the Ntionl Accredittion Authority for Trnsltors nd Interpreters (NAATI) Lnguge Aide Test, Prprofessionl Interpreter or Interpreter test. 3. Who is not eligible to pply for n llownce? o You re not eligible to pply for n llownce if: o You re employed s n interpreter or trnsltor. o You re employed in positions in which lnguge skills re n integrl prt of the job profile nd the remunertion lredy reflects your lnguge bility. 4. Wht qulifictions do you need to receive n llownce? The Lnguge Allownce offers three levels of pyment, tied to different levels of NAATI qulifiction nd ccredittion. The three levels re: o Lnguge Aide Qulifiction o Prprofessionl Interpreter Accredittion o Interpreter Accredittion 4.1 Lnguge Aide The Lnguge Aide qulifiction is suitble for stff tht re required to use miniml knowledge of lnguge for the purposes of simple communiction. Tsks my involve counter work, nswering generl enquiries, ssisting people with low English proficiency 2

3 to complete simple forms in English, or ssisting people from non English-speking bckgrounds by giving instructions in the lnguge other thn English. 4.2 Prprofessionl Interpreter The Prprofessionl Interpreter ccredittion represents level of competence in interpreting for the purpose of generl converstions, generlly in the form of nonspecilist dilogue. Tsks my include interpreting generl converstions, interpreting in situtions where specilised terminology or more sophisticted conceptul informtion is required, or interpreting in situtions where depth of linguistic bility is not required. 4.3 Interpreter The Interpreter ccredittion my be regrded s the Austrlin professionl stndrd for interpreters. Stff with this qulifiction should be cpble of interpreting cross wide rnge of subjects including dilogues t specilist consulttions. They should lso be ble to interpret presenttions by the consecutive mode. Tsks my include interpreting in both lnguge directions for wide rnge of subject res usully involving specilist consulttions with other professionls (doctors, solicitors, court interpreting), or interpreting in situtions where some depth of linguistic bility in both lnguges is necessry. (Plese refer to the ttched list of lnguges offered t the bove three levels) 5. Allownce Rtes The mount of llownce pyble is: o $800 yer for Lnguge Aides o $1100 yer for Prprofessionl Interpreters o $1500 yer for Interpreters Note: For employees the llownces re provided under the VPS Agreement 2006 through Cluse 30.4 nd under the Nurses Agreement 2004 through Cluse NAATI Testing Process NAATI Lnguge Aide tests re vilble t ny time throughout the yer. NAATI Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter tests re vilble from Mrch to June in Stff must submit pplictions for testing to their regionl or divisionl LAP Coordintors by 31 December, 2007 to void lte registrtion fee being imposed. Alterntively, specil on-demnd tests my be orgnized to meet the specil nd often urgent needs of either n employer or employee. These re stndrd ccredittion tests conducted outside the norml testing progrm. The fees for specil tests re higher thn the norml test fees. Compulsory pre-testing workshops Pre-test workshops re compulsory for ll pplicnts: Lnguge Aide pre-test workshops re vilble throughout the yer on demnd. Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter pre-test workshops re vilble during Februry to Mrch Progrms re vilble on the NAATI website: or directly from the NAATI office. 3

4 Test Formts All three levels of testing contin orl comprehension components. Lnguge Aide Test The Lnguge Aide test hs n optionl written comprehension section. Prprofessionl nd Interpreter Tests In ddition to orl dilogue components, questions on socil/culturl nd ethicl issues will be sked in the prprofessionl nd interpreter tests. Ethicl questions re bsed on NAATI s publiction: Ethics of Trnsltion & Interpreting: A Guide to Professionl Conduct in Austrli. The Interpreter test includes section on Consecutive Interpreting, which ssesses the cndidte's bility to give in the trget lnguge the sense nd import of pssge of moderte length (pprox.300 words) to which she/he hs just listened. Pss Mrk The pss mrk for ll tests is 70 per cent. Pre Test workshops nd nnul testing progrm NAATI informtion on the pre-test workshops nd the nnul testing progrm will be vilble from the Coordintor, Employee Support Services, Humn Resources Brnch. 7. Fees Pre-test workshops re compulsory for ll pplicnts for the Allownce. o The cost of Lnguge Aide workshops is $50 per pplicnt, to be covered by the deprtment. o The cost of Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter workshops rnges from $60 to $240, depending on the workshop being undertken. Further detils cn be obtined from NAATI. The cost of these workshops is to be covered by deprtment. Lnguge Aide o The Lnguge Aide testing fee is $272. This includes the ppliction fee, smple test nd the ctul test. The Victorin Multiculturl Commission (VMC) will fund the fee for the Lnguge Aide test. Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter o An ppliction fee of $80 pplies for the Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter tests. o The Prprofessionl Interpreter test fee is $284 if tken in llocted NAATI testing times, or $467 if the test is tken outside tht time s Specil Ondemnd test. 4

5 o The Interpreter test fee is $341 if tken in llocted NAATI testing times, or $577 if the test is tken outside tht time s Specil On-demnd test. Plese note tht NAATI my increse testing nd workshop fees from 1 July Appliction Process Discuss with your mnger or supervisor the possibility of pplying for the llownce if you re fluent in lnguge other thn English, if you use this lnguge in your dy-to-dy work with the Victorin public nd wish to prticipte in the progrm. When considering nomintion mngers will give regrd to the frequency of demnd, the verge mount of time spent using the lnguge nd the importnce of providing lnguge services. If there is greement tht there is continuing need in the workplce for your lnguge skill(s) DHS Lnguge Allownce Progrm Nomintion Form must be completed nd then endorsed by your mnger or supervisor. The completed Nomintion Form is forwrded to your regionl or divisionl LAP Coordintor who will then contct the nominee to fcilitte rrngements for NAATI testing. If you lredy hve NAATI qulifiction you will need to forwrd copy of the ccredittion certificte with your DHS nomintion form. If you do not hve NAATI qulifiction, the LAP Coordintor will fcilitte rrngements for you to sit the relevnt test. Cndidtes will receive Lnguge Aide smple test in the lnguge in which they re being tested from NAATI following their ppliction. Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter smple tests re vilble for purchse seprtely from the NAATI office, s is the publiction: Ethics of Trnsltion & Interpreting: A Guide to Professionl Conduct in Austrli. Deprtments will obtin copies of the test ppliction forms directly from NAATI. The deprtment will coordinte pplictions nd deliver them to NAATI. NAATI will invoice The VMC for the tests on ppliction, mking refunds ccording to policy for cndidtes who pply for testing but do not subsequently sit the test. NAATI will invoice the deprtment for pre-testing workshops 9. Regionl/Divisionl LAP Coordintors LAP Coordintors re usully your Regionl Humn Resources Mnger, Divisionl or Progrm Humn Resource stff member. LAP Coordintors re vilble to provide further informtion on the progrm, to coordinte nomintions nd to fcilitte the llownce pyment process. If your regionl/divisionl LAP Coordintor is unvilble, contct the Stte-wide Employee Support Services Coordintor on

6 10. Funding Arrngements Victorin Multiculturl Commission (VMC) The VMC will fund the ppliction fee nd full cost of prprofessionl nd interpreter tests for tests tken between Mrch nd June The VMC will py the bse cost of tests if they re tken outside the llocted testing period. The deprtment will cover the reminder of the test fee, which would be $183 in the cse of Prprofessionl Interpreter tests nd $236 in the cse of Interpreter tests. Ech cndidte is eligible to sit ccredittion tests twice under the VMC subsidy, s described bove. Region or Division Funding The pplicnt s region or division will be required to fund the following: Compulsory Pre-test workshops. The Lnguge Aide workshop fee is $50 per pplicnt. The Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter workshop fees rnge from $60 to $240 per pplicnt, depending on the workshop undertken. Detils of the workshops cn be obtined from your LAP Coordintor. Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter Specil On-Demnd Tests Stff pplying for the Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter tests must submit pplictions for testing to their regionl or divisionl LAP Coordintors by 31 December, 2007 for Mrch June testing. If you miss the cut-off for the llocted testing period Specil On-Demnd Test cn be rrnged. VMC will cover the bse cost for Specil On-Demnd Tests nd regions or divisions will be required to fund the difference. 6

7 Item Cost Funded by VMC Lnguge Aide Allownce 800 Prprofessionl Interpreter 1100 Allownce Interpreter Allownce 1500 Funded by Region/Division Lnguge Aide Workshop Lnguge Aide Test $50 $272 Prprofessionl Interpreter Workshop Prprofessionl Interpreter Test Prprofessionl Interpreter Specil on Demnd Test Fee Initil Appliction Fee For Test $60 to $240 $284 $467 ($284) $80 ($183) Interpreter Workshop $60 to $240 Interpreter Test $341 Interpreter $577 Specil on Demnd Test Fee Initil Appliction Fee For Test $80 ($341)_ ($236)_ Test Preprtion Smple Test Kits Prprofessionl Interpreter $45 Interpreter Test Preprtion Publiction Ethics of Trnsltion nd Interpreting (For Prprofessionl Interpreter nd Interpreter) $57 $ Administrtion of Allownce o The deprtment will py the llownce fortnightly to stff in ddition to slry. The llownce is pyble during pid sick leve, recretion leve, long service leve nd mternity leve (pro rt, where pproprite). Once stff member hs pssed NAATI ccredittion test the llownce is to be bck-pid from the dte of ccredittion by NAATI. o The Employee Support Services Coordintor will rrnge journl trnsfer to reimburse cost centre loctions on qurterly bsis. o Pyment of the llownce is to be reviewed by the mnger of ech recipient of the llownce, nnully nd whenever the employment sttus or work requirements of stff receiving the llownce chnge (for exmple, on promotion, 7

8 trnsfer or temporry trnsfer). Reviews should ddress whether there is continuing need for communiction in the prticulr lnguge. The llownce is not utomticlly trnsferble when stff members move to new positions. o Stff members receiving the llownce who hve not used their lnguge skills regulrly in the pst yer my hve their llownce entitlements removed. Mngers re required to verify nnully tht there is need for the lnguge skills in the recipient s workplce to the extent tht pyment of the llownce is wrrnted. o Mngers re required to ensure tht stff receiving the llownce re redily identifible to ll stff in the office by identifying such officers on stff telephone lists / centrl register. o To obtin informtion on ccredittion testing nd pre-testing workshops, plese see the NAATI website or contct NAATI on or meroff@nti.com.u 12. Administrtion of Allownce Stte-wide Employee Support Services Coordintor o The Employee Support Services Coordintor is the Stte-wide Coordintor for the Lnguge Allownce Progrm nd is the nominted deprtmentl contct person for VMC nd NAATI. o Responsibilities include: o Providing reports to VMC on progrm expenditure nd submitting yerly requests for funding. o Coordinting pplictions for testing with NAATI. o Ensuring regionl nd divisionl LAP Coordintors receive NAATI informtion on pre-test workshops nd the testing progrm s well s copies of test ppliction forms. o To ensure cost centres re reimbursed for ny slry llownce expenditure on qurterly bsis. Mngers o Responsibilities of mngers under the Lnguge Allownce Progrm include: o Informing stff, who hve relevnt lnguge skills, bout the progrm. o Evluting the ppropriteness of nomintions for the Lnguge Allownce, giving due regrd to the frequency of demnd, the verge mount of time spent using the nominted lnguge nd the importnce of providing lnguge services. o Ensuring tht stff receiving the llownce re redily identifible to ll stff in the office by identifying such officers on stff telephone lists nd office noticebords. o Annully reviewing pyment of the llownce to ech recipient nd whenever the employment sttus or work requirements of recipients of the llownce chnges (for exmple, on promotion or temporry trnsfer). Forwrding completed review of service provision forms to your regionl or divisionl LAP Coordintor. 8

9 o To nnully review the need for the lnguge skills in the llownce recipient s workplce to the extent tht pyment of the llownce is wrrnted. o Reviews should ddress whether there is continuing need for communiction in the prticulr lnguge. The llownce is not utomticlly trnsferble when stff members move to new positions. Stff members receiving the llownce who hve not used their lnguge skills regulrly in the pst yer my hve their llownce entitlements removed. The decision on whether or not to remove stff member s entitlement to the llownce will be mde by the relevnt mnger, in consulttion with the Stte-wide Employee Support Services Coordintor. LAP Coordintors o LAP Coordintors re source of informtion nd coordintion point for the progrm in their region or division nd their responsibilities include: o On receipt of DHS Nomintion Forms, confirm tht the provision of the proposed lnguge is relevnt to your region or division (ie not lredy being provided by nother stff member). o Forwrding completed NAATI pre-test workshop nd test pplictions to the Sttewide Employee Support Services Coordintor. o Fcilitting rrngements for pplicnts requiring testing by NAATI. o Providing regionl or divisionl dt to the Stte-wide Employee Support Services Coordintor for the nnul report to VOMA, including expenditure on the llownce, the number of people receiving the llownce, nd in which lnguge(s). o Monitoring the nnul review of commitment of ech llownce recipient by his or her mnger. o To notify the Employee Support Services Coordintor of ny chnges in the circumstnces of llownce recipients to ensure the Contct List vilble on KnowledgeNet is kept current. o To promote the Lnguge Allownce Progrm in your Region or Division. Recipients of Allownce o Responsibilities of llownce recipients include: o To, in so fr s is prcticble, ensure your vilbility to provide services to DHS clients. o To mintin confidentility t ll times. o To ensure contct detils displyed on KnowledgeNet re lwys current by notifying your regionl or divisionl LAP Coordintor of chnges to your circumstnces. o To prticipte in the nnul review of the llownce pyment. o Stff members receiving the llownce who hve not used their lnguge skills regulrly in the pst yer my hve their llownce entitlements removed. 9

10 Lnguges offered t ech level of NAATI testing Lnguge Aide Prprofessionl Interpreter Interpreter Arbic Albnin Lo Albnin Lo Bosnin Amhric Mcedonin Amhric Mcedonin Cntonese Arbic Mlysin Arbic Mlysin Crotin Assyrin Mltese Assyrin Mltese Filipino Ausln Mndrin Ausln Mndrin French Bengli Persin Bengli Persin Germn Bosnin Pertme Bosnin Pertme Greek Bulgrin Pitjntjtjr Bulgrin Pitjntjtjr Hindi Burmese Polish Burmese Polish Indonesin Cntonese Portuguese Cntonese Portuguese Itlin Crotin Punjbi Crotin Punjbi Jpnese Czech Pushto Czech Romnin Khmer Dri Romnin Dri Russin Koren Dutch Russin Dutch Smon Lo Estern Smon Estern Serbin Mcedonin Arrernte Serbin Arrernte Sinhlese Mndrin Filipino Sinhlese Filipino Somli Persin Finnish Somli Finnish Spnish Polish French Spnish French Tmil Portuguese Germn Tmil Germn Thi Russin Greek Tetum Greek Tongn Serbin Hkk Thi Hkk Turkish Spnish Hindi Tigriny Hindi Ukrinin Thi Hungrin Tongn Hungrin Urdu Turkish Indonesin Turkish Indonesin Vietnmese Vietnmese Itlin Ukrinin Itlin Jpnese Urdu Jpnese Khmer Vietnmese Khmer Koren Koren 10