Aboriginal Interpreter Service turns 10

The Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) recently celebrated 10 years of service, helping Indigenous Territorians communicate in their first language. To coincide with the celebration 15 long service awards were presented to interpreters who have been with the AIS since the day it opened for business in April 2000.

Since the opening the AIS has grown to employ over 370 interpreters making it one of the largest employers of Aboriginal people across Australia.

AIS offices are located in Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and the Territory Growth Towns of Maningrida, Yuendumu and Wadeye. New offices are being established in Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt.

In March 2009, for the very first time, three AIS interpreters reached the professional level of accreditation. This is the first time in Australia that interpreters of Aboriginal languages were given the opportunity of sitting for this examination. The AIS now employs 58 interpreters that are accredited at the professional level.

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