The NAATI Indigenous Languages Reference Group (Reference Group) was established in 2025 to provide a two-way communication channel between highly experienced Indigenous language interpreters and translators and NAATI. All Reference Group members hold NAATI credentials in interpreting or translating.
Below, you can view the members and read their visions and perspectives.
Members
"Being a NAATI certified interpreter in Yumplatok/Torres Strait creole language enhances my professional standing and equips me with the skills and knowledge to professionally facilitate meaningful communications."
Edward Sailor (Chair) Language: Yumplatok
"I am passionate about ensuring my people are given correct information in their own language. Having interpreters within the services in our communities will guarantee they are given information in a culturally appropriate manner."
Althea Leon McKeown Language: Yumplatok
"I'd like to see more Indigenous language interpreters and translators being certified, an increase in training, different certification levels, and more Indigenous language trainers."
Leonora Adidi
Language: Yumplatok and KKY
"Interpreters should be used foremost, then community people. I want to help lobby for interpreters to be employed in every department where there are high intrepreting needs."
Robert ‘Tommy’ Pau
Language: Yumplatok
"If you're NAATI certified, people know you're an experienced interpreter. Interpreting gives me the joy of helping my people."
Mary Bernadette Dunn
Language: Modern Tiwi
"I want to share knowledge with other certified interpreters and strengthen the role of an interpreter."
Galathi Dhurrkay
Language: Djambarrpuyngu
"Being NAATI-certified I see more more authority and trust, from court and legal stuff, and the medical side as well. When I completed my NAATI certification, I learned about problem solving, and seeing the bigger picture."
Georgina Gellett
Language: Djambarrpuyngu
Rachel Dikul Baker
Language: Djambarrpuyngu
"Keep going. Communicating, bridging the gap so Yolngu and Balanda can understand each other. Makes me feel good when I can interpret for someone."
Sandra Dhamarandji
Language: Djambarrpuyngu
"I'm a NAATI certified interpreter - we work with the code of ethics, as well as cultural protocols. The professional needs us, and the patient needs us. I am professional, because of the skill level. NAATI certification is the extra level of confidence. I am connected to my people. They see that and are comforted in the way that there is someone to help them. Connections make open communications. We make open communications. We communicate accurately and are the bridge between two worlds."
Elah Yunupingu
Language: Dhuwaya
"I want to be in the space of language work in Australia. Being a Pitjantjatjara speaker, I want to be able to shape language work in Australia and what that looks like for interpreters and translators in the future."
Dominic Barry
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Jezebel Moketarinja Sena
Language: Western Arrarnta
"I'd like to see more Aboriginal people learning these skills, to be certified, and carry it down to the next generation"
Catherine Wiseman
Language: Western Arrarnta
"I want to Improve people's lives and their ability to communicate in their own language"
Kenneth Lechleitner
Language: Western Arrarnta
"I want to get as many young people NAATI-certified as possible. It's an amazing skill to have. There are kids that speak two, three or four languages. Let them know that that there alone is a career waiting for them when they get older."
Sally Sena
Language: Western Arrarnta
"There are so many people in the communities that have the skills, I want to build them up to become certified. I want to make them more aware that this is a pathway for them."
Lianna Brown
Language: Kriol and Gurindji Kriol
"Being NAATI-certified helps me mentor and guide young ones coming through and shows my qualifications for work."
Lyn Trindle
Language: Kriol
Sean Wilson
Language: Warlpiri
Althea Leon McKeown | Language: Yumplatok
"I am passionate about ensuring my people are given correct information in their own language. Having interpreters within the services in our communities will guarantee they are given information in a culturally appropriate manner."
Edward Sailor | Language: Yumplatok
"Being a NAATI certified interpreter in Yumplatok/Torres Strait creole language enhances my professional standing and equips me with the skills and knowledge to professionally facilitate meaningful communications."
Leonora Adidi | Language: Yumplatok and KKY
"I'd like to see more Indigenous language interpreters and translators being certified, an increase in training, different certification levels, and more Indigenous language trainers."
Michael Corden | Language: Yumplatok
Robert 'Tommy' Pau | Language: Yumplatok
"I am passionate about ensuring my people are given correct information in their own language. Having interpreters within the services in our communities will guarantee they are given information in a culturally appropriate manner."
Mary Bernadette Dunn | Language: Modern Tiwi
"If you're NAATI certified, people know you're an experienced interpreter. Interpreting gives me the joy of helping my people."
Galathi Dhurrkay | Language: Djambarrpuyngu
"I want to share knowledge with other certified interpreters and strengthen the role of an interpreter."
Georgina Gellett | Language: Djambarrpuyngu
"Being NAATI-certified I see more more authority and trust, from court and legal stuff, and the medical side as well. When I completed my NAATI certification, I learned about problem solving, and seeing the bigger picture."
Rachel Dikul Baker | Language: Djambarrpuyngu
Sandra Dhamarandji | Language: Djambarrpuyngu
"Keep going. Communicating, bridging the gap so Yolngu and Balanda can understand each other. Makes me feel good when I can interpret for someone."
Elah Yunupingu | Language: Dhuwaya
"I'm a NAATI certified interpreter - we work with the code of ethics, as well as cultural protocols. The professional needs us, and the patient needs us. I am professional, because of the skill level. NAATI certification is the extra level of confidence. I am connected to my people. They see that and are comforted in the way that there is someone to help them. Connections make open communications. We make open communications. We communicate accurately and are the bridge between two worlds."
Dominic Barry | Language: Pitjantjatjara
"I want to be in the space of language work in Australia. Being a Pitjantjatjara speaker, I want to be able to shape language work in Australia and what that looks like for interpreters and translators in the future."
Patrick Hookey | Language: Pitjantjatjara
"I want there to be enough interpreters for people to be able to speak about what they want to speak about in their own languages. It would help keep the languages alive."
Hollie Webb | Language: Pitjantjatjara
Beth Sometimes | Language: Pitjantjatjara
"I like being NAATI certified because it helps me stay in touch with the interpreting industry and aware of industry discourse."
Jezebel Moketarinja Sena | Language: Western Arrarnta
Catherine Wiseman | Language: Western Arrarnta
"I'd like to see more Aboriginal people learning these skills, to be certified, and carry it down to the next generation"
Kenneth Lechleitner | Language: Western Arrarnta
"I want to Improve people's lives and their ability to communicate in their own language"
Sally Sena | Language: Western Arrarnta
"I want to get as many young people NAATI-certified as possible. It's an amazing skill to have. There are kids that speak two, three or four languages. Let them know that that there alone is a career waiting for them when they get older."
Lianna Brown | Language: Kriol and Gurindji Kriol
"I want to Improve people's lives and their ability to communicate in their own language"
Lyn Trindle | Language: Kriol
"Being NAATI-certified helps me mentor and guide young ones coming through and shows my qualifications for work."
Sean Wilson | Language: Warlpiri
Associate members
Associate members are non-Indigenous practitioners that are NAATI certified in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Associate members join the NAATI Indigenous Languages Reference Group meetings by invitation, and vote on matters by invitation.
Hollie Webb
Language: Pitjantjatjara
"I like being NAATI certified because it helps me stay in touch with the interpreting industry and aware of industry discourse."
Beth Sometimes
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Michael Corden
Language: Yumplatok
"I want there to be enough interpreters for people to be able to speak about what they want to speak about in their own languages. It would help keep the languages alive."
Patrick Hookey
Language: Pitjantjatjara