Soryas and Rivas gained their credentials with the assistance of the NSW Interpreter and Translator Scholarship Program delivered by Multicultural NSW and have proven to be a very busy duo.

Soryas Khero

I was born in Shekhan, a town located 60 km north of Mosul, in Iraq. I am from a Yazidi family and it is not easy to be a Yazidi female in a country such as Iraq. When I completed high school, I was accepted in the College of Arts at the University of Mosul. However, as a Yazidi studying at the University of Mosul I did not feel safe and as a Yazidi woman, I faced many challenges. That is why I tried to transfer to another university and had to choose a less prestigious business management course in my town of Shekhan.

I am a multilingual speaker. My first language is Kurmanji. I have also spoken Kurdish Sorani since primary school. In high school, I started learning Arabic. After the Yazidi genocide in August 2014, my family fled to Turkey and I lived there for two years. This is where I acquired basic Turkish language skills.

In August 2014, my father died from a heart condition and just six days after his death I had to flee for my life because ISIS were only 10 km away from my town. Sadly, I was unable to visit my father’s grave. That is why when I get interpreting assignments with cardiologists, I feel a sense of fulfilment and am very happy to be of assistance. I try my best to respond to phone assignments from dawn. I understand that these calls are highly likely to be emergency calls from people with limited or no English language skills who may need an ambulance. Often, under such circumstances, their life is at risk and they are unable to provide simple information such as their address without an interpreter’s assistance. These sorts of jobs provide me with the opportunity to be part of a team of professionals who can help a patient get better and therefore spend more time with people they love.

I came to Australia in September 2016. As I was unable to speak any English at that time, I communicated through interpreters. At the same time, I worked very hard to learn English. I attended different English language courses, including an interpreter-training course. These days when I undertake interpreting assignments, I instantly remember how I felt 4 years ago and the challenges I faced as a non-English speaker. Therefore, when I interpret, I do my best to avoid any misunderstanding between the English speaker and non-English speaker.

As a professional interpreter, I avoid any discussions with clients before the assignment. This is particularly important for on-site interpreting jobs. I usually arrive 15 minutes before the assignment starts and spend some time with the non- English speaker in the same waiting area. I believe that being professional and acting with honesty at all times is the key component of the AUSIT Code of Ethics.

Rivas Khero

I was born in Iraq in 1994 and I finished high school in 2014. My family then moved to Turkey where I lived for 2 years. In September 2016, I arrived in Australia and I did not speak any English. It was a big challenge for me to learn a new language and to start a new life in a new country. I went to TAFE in Wagga Wagga, NSW where I studied English. Later on, I started my first job in Australia as an interpreter at the Centrelink office. In 2018 I moved to Sydney and attended a course to gain a credential from NAATI as an interpreter.

I am goal oriented and always try to achieve more goals. I have chosen interpreting to help my community and always try my best to assist everyone with their language needs. 

As professional interpreters, we never stop learning. We think that our job is not just transferring words from one language to another, but also to connecting two different cultures. At the same time, during our interpreting assignments, we always remember to act professionally: be honest and accurate.