It's the year 2020, and an ultra-conservative government has cancelled all funding for interpreting and translating services within the Australian health system.
What risks are healthcare providers now exposed to? Can bilingual staff mitigate these risks?
This controversial scenario is set to generate debate at the Diversity in Health Conference in June.
"By taking people to a world without interpreters, we create a space to discuss the role of bilingual employees in the health system," explains Pamela Rodriguez from the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health.
"We know that the demand for language services is too high to be completely met by qualified interpreters. So what other options are open to us? How do we make better use of employees with bilingual skills? What are the risks of not using professional interpreters? Can both interpreters and bilingual workers co-exist in the health system?"
A panel of language services experts is set to answer these questions. Panellists include Ari Pappas from OnCall Interpreters and Translators, Sharon E. Barrett from the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (US), and Karella de Jongh, chief interpreter at St Vincent's Hospital.
And that's not all. Language services will be spotlighted throughout the conference, with paper presentations on professional development for interpreters, ensuring quality translations, language services for the aged, in-house interpreters, language aides in hospitals and many other issues. The Language Services stream is sponsored by OnCall Interpreters and Translators.
Diversity in Health brings the health, government and community sectors together to focus on ways to improve the health and wellbeing of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The conference features a strong line-up of international researchers and Australian health experts, including Mark Johnson (UK), Dr Tim Woodruff, Sharon E. Barrett (US), Professor Hurriyet Babacan, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, Maria Dimopoulos, Pino Migliorino and Nira Yuval-Davis (UK).
Diversity in Health will run from 7-9 June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Registrations are now open.
For more information call (03) 9342 9700 or email enquiries@ceh.org.au.