Career opportunities for interpreters

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is currently recruiting interpreters to meet the ongoing growth in demand for interpreting services in Australia.

Please note, we are currently receiving a large number of interpreter applications. You will be contacted by TIS National when your application is being processed.

Requirements for becoming a TIS National interpreter

We will give preference to applicants who have transitioned to the new NAATI Certification model. We encourage interpreters to have certification from the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) at the Certified interpreter level where available.

To be eligible to become a TIS National interpreter you must:


    • be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia
    • be 18 years of age or older
    • have the required qualifications for the language you wish to interpret in
    • provide a certified copy of a National Police History Check/National Police Certificate (NPC) dated within the past 12  months
    • provide a current employment Working with Children Check from your state or territory of residence, where required  (Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and South Australia)
    • provide certified copies of 100 points of identification documentation

Recruitment priorities+Expand content

Recruitment priorities at the Certified Interpreter level (or higher)

TIS National will consider recruiting interpreters in any language if they hold a NAATI Certified Interpreter credential (or higher).

Recruitment priorities at the Certified Provisional Interpreter level (or higher)

TIS National gives priority to recruiting interpreters in the following languages if they hold a NAATI Certified Provisional Interpreter credential (or higher):

Bengali
Danish
Dari
Dinka
Filipino (alt Tagalog)
German
Greek
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Khmer
Macedonian 
Myanmar Language (alt Burmese)
Nepali
Norwegian
Oromo 
Pashto
Polish
Portuguese
Rohingya
Russian
Samoan
Sinhalese
Somali
Spanish 
Tamil
Thai
Tibetan
Urdu

Recruitment priorities for emerging languages

In languages where NAATI certification is not available, we prefer applicants with a NAATI Recognised Practising Interpreter credential.

TIS National would be keen to speak with individuals who have an interest in working as an interpreter and have good language skills in English and one or more of the following languages:

 

Afar
Afrikaans
Akan (alt Twi/Fanti)
Ambele
Anyuak
Bislama
Cameroon Pidgin
Hakha Chin
Ewe
Fijian
Hmong
Hokkien (Chinese)
Idi
Juba Arabic (alt Sudanese Creole Arabic)
Kayah (alt Karenni)
Kiribati
Kirundi (alt Rundi/Urundi)
Kunama 
Liberian English
Loma
Maori
Mon
Pijin (alt Solomons Pidgin)
Rohingya
Saho
Samoan
Shona
Susu
Tok Pisin
Tongan

Recruitment priorities for interpreters without any NAATI credential (‘nil credentialed’)

TIS National is willing to consider applications from nil credentialed interpreters in the following languages:

Pwo Eastern Karen
S’gaw Karen
Tibetan
Uyghur (alt Uighur)

State-based recruitment priorities+Expand content

Australian Capital Territory

Arabic
Hakha Chin
Croatian
Filipino (alt Tagalog)
French
German
Hindi
Hungarian
Kayah (alt Karenni)
Lao
Macedonian
Russian
Samoan
Spanish
Thai
Urdu

New South Wales

Akan (alt Twi/Fanti)
Armenian
Assyrian
Cantonese
Croatian
Filipino
Greek
Hakha Chin
Hindi
Indonesian
Italian
Khmer
Lao
Macedonian
Mongolian
Portuguese
Rohingya
Russian
Samoan
Tibetan
Tongan
Urdu
Zo (alt Zomi)

Northern Territory

Spanish
Thai
 

Queensland

Arabic
Cantonese
Dari
Dinka
Filipino (alt Tagalog)
Finnish
French
German
Greek
Indonesian
Japanese
Mandarin
Russian
Samoan
Serbian
Tamil
Thai
Tigrinya
Turkish
Vietnamese
 

South Australia

Cantonese
Dinka
Hazaragi
Italian
Myanmar Language (alt Burmese)
Nepali
Pashto
Tamil
Thai
Tigrinya
Turkish

Tasmania

Farsi
Hazaragi
Mandarin
Nepali
Oromo
Tigrinya

Victoria

Assyrian
Bosnian
Croatian
Dinka
Filipino (alt Tagalog)
Greek
Indonesian
Italian
Khmer
Korean
Southern Kurdish (alt Feyli)
Macedonian
Myanmar Language (alt Burmese)
Maltese
Nepali
Polish
Punjabi
Pwo Eastern Karen
S’gaw Karen
Samoan
Somali
Spanish
Tibetan
Urdu
Zo (alt Zomi)

Western Australia

Arabic
Cantonese
Dinka
Greek
Indonesia
Italian
Korean
Mandarin
Myanmar Language (alt Burmese)
Oromo
Pashto
Pwo Eastern Karen
S’gaw Karen
Somali
Spanish
Tamil
Thai
Tigrinya
 

 

Apply to become a TIS National interpreter

If you are interested in becoming an interpreter with TIS National and meet the criteria, complete the interpreter application form and submit with the following documentation:

  • a certified copy of any NAATI credentials you hold 

  • a copy of your National Police History Check/National Police Certificate (NPC). Your NPC must not be more than 12 months old. If your NPC is from Australian Federal Police or State Police, you will need to provide a certified copy. Click here for more information

  • a certified copy of an employment Working with Children Check from your state or territory of residence. Click here for more information

  • certified copies of 100 points of identification documentation. Click here for more information

  • a certified copy of proof of your Australian citizenship or permanent residency, or New Zealand citizenship

  • your resume

  • details of any interpreting experience you have including reference letters.