THE JILL BLEWETT MEMORIAL LECTURES

Each year, coinciding with its National Annual General Meeting, AUSIT invites a distinguished guest speaker to deliver the Jill Blewett Memorial Lecture (JBML) in the AGM host city.

As well as being a tribute to the late Jill Blewett and her contribution to the development of translating and interpreting in Australia, this prestigious event provides members and the wider public with an opportunity to reflect on the state of translation and interpreting in Australia.

                                                                          The JBML Guest Presenters:

1992: Ass. Prof. Adolfo Gentile, Head of Interpreting and Translating at Deakin University, Melbourne.
Inaugural lecture presented in conjunction with the National Language Expo in Melbourne.

1993: Hon Lynn Arnold, Premier of South Australia . Presented at the AUSIT National AGM in Adelaide.

1994: Mr Max Bourke, Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Dept of Prime Minister and Cabinet: Creativity and Interpretation . Presented in conjunction with the National Language Expo in Sydney.

1995: Mr Chris Puplick, Head of the Anti-Discrimination Board: "E pluribus unum. Language, translators, equity and access in Australia" . Presented at the AUSIT National AGM in Sydney.

1996: Dr Judy Wakabayashi, Lecturer, Masters course in Japanese interpreting and translating, University of Queensland: "The translator's voice" . Presented in conjunction with the National Language Expo in Brisbane.

1997: His Excellency Aneurin Hughes, Head of the European Commission delegation in Australia: "The importance of language services in international relations"  . Presented as part of the AUSIT National Conference and AGM in Canberra.

1998: Dr Mary Kalantzis, Dean of the Faculty of Education, RMIT University. "The social status of translation and interpreting" . Presented at the AUSIT National AGM in Melbourne .

1999: Mr Laurie Robson, Barrister-at-Law: "The significance of proposed changes in the legal system for interpreters" . Presented as part of the AUSIT National Conference and AGM in Sydney.

2000: Ms Karen Clare, AUSLAN interpreter:  "Recognising our humanness. Minimising the impact of interpreting on our professional and personal selves"   . Presented at the AUSIT National AGM in Brisbane.

2001: Mr David Page, PSM, former Assistant Secretary, Settlement Branch, Dept of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs: "Translating and interpreting in Australia: A profession, a craft, an industry or a service?" . Presented on the occasion of the NAATI "Translator & Interpreter Awareness Day" (an event supported by AUSIT which preceded the National AGM in Melbourne).

2002: Mr Kim Collard, Coordinator of ICMDP at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies at Curtin University of Technology. Presented at the AUSIT Conference Strength in Diversity and National AGM in Perth.

2003: Dr George Quinn, Head of Southeast Asia Centre, Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University: "On translating Indonesia" . Presented at the AUSIT National AGM in Canberra.

2004: Hon. Dr Barry Jones AO former politician, writer and broadcaster: Translating, Interpreting and Understanding 'the Other' . Presented at the AUSIT/ASLIA Conference Power to the Profession in Melbourne. 

2006: Mr Arnold Zable, writer and lecturer.

2007: Dr Lindsay Heywood, CEO NAATI. Translation of a Profession: An Interpretation . Presented at the AUSIT National AGM in Sydney.

2008: Prof. Adolfo Gentile: Interpreters, Translators and Human Rights . Presented at the AUSIT Biennial Conference Get Connected in Brisbane. 

The late Jill Blewett played an important role in the early development of the translating and interpreting (T&I) profession in Australia.

From 1976 to 1982 she was Senior Lecturer with the Community Language Programme at the Adelaide College of TAFE, later becoming Coordinator of the Level 3 Interpreting and Translating Course at the SA College of Advanced Education. She was appointed to the SA State Accreditation Panel for Translators in 1979.

In 1983 she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) to represent the education/training aspects of T&I. Her initial three-year term was extended in 1986 for a further three years.

Jill was also a member of the NAATI Steering Committee set up to establish the criteria and format of the Level 4 (now Advanced Translator/Conference Interpreter) courses and tests, and to develop guidelines for the establishment of T&I courses in Australia. She served as Chairperson of NAATI's Qualifications Assessment and Advisory Committee, which is responsible for approving T&I courses in this country and for the assessment of overseas qualifications in T&I held by applicants for accreditation in Australia.

An interpreter and translator herself, she fought for the establishment of high standards and for regulation of the profession. It is largely as a result of her efforts that Australia has been recognised internationally as a leader in the field of community-based interpreting.

Jill was admired by all who knew her for her dedication to the profession and for the concern she showed and the encouragement she gave to individuals.