BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND CRITERIA FOR SELECTING CANDIDATES TO PRESENT
THE ASLIA NATIONAL JW FLYNN ORATION

The John W Flynn Oration is an ASLIA National initiative, named in honour of an interpreter and welfare worker of many years experience, who was most instrumental in establishing NAATI accreditation and training systems for Auslan interpreters. NAATI had been established since 1977, and in April 1979, the possibility of NAATI accrediting sign language interpreters was mooted, with Mr John W Flynn a driving force behind NAATI considering this role.

After several exchanges from 1979, John personally met with NAATI in October 1981, submitting a strong proposal arguing the legitimacy of Australian Sign Language as a language, and the need for interpreters working in the deafness sector to be accredited to perform interpreting tasks. This position was accepted by NAATI and John became a member of the NAATI Board, and Chairman of the very first panel established to assess sign language interpreting candidates. The first NAATI test was held on 22 November 1982 in Melbourne, and NAATI accreditation since that time has been commonplace, with well over 700 Auslan interpreters accredited by NAATI by 2005. John was also a lynch pin in the moves to establish training courses for sign language interpreters in Victoria in the mid to late 1980's, was a fore-runner in the provision of theatre interpreting, and is the author of several articles and a book about the history of interpreting services in Australia, and the history of the Victorian Deaf Society.

The JW Flynn Oration has been delivered by many well-respected and influential practitioners of interpreting, advocates and consumers of interpreting services, and trainers of interpreters, as follows:-

1996 - Inaugural address by John W Flynn (Vic) presented in Hobart, Tas
2000 - Marianne Bridge (Vic) presented in Sydney, NSW
2002 - Peter Bonser (Qld, formerly of NSW) presented in Melbourne, Vic
2003 - Dr Harry Blackmore (WA) presented in Sydney, NSW
2004 - Amanda Dolejsi (ACT) presented in Launceston, Tas
2005 - Andrew Wiltshire (NSW) presented in Cairns, Qld
2006 - Dr Jemina Napier (NSW) presented in Perth, WA on 18 August 2006

2007 - Karen Bontempo (WA) has been invited to present in Sydney, NSW in September 2007

Orators are selected by the ASLIA National executive, and are confirmed in consultation with the state or territory branch hosting the ASLIA National Winterschool event and/or the Annual General Meeting of ASLIA National, where possible and appropriate. The timing of the AGM of ASLIA National has not always permitted the inclusion of a JW Flynn Oration, and at such times a Guest Speaker has otherwise been invited to speak to members.

As far as possible however, it is expected that an ASLIA National Winterschool and/or AGM event will include the JW Flynn Oration. Direct costs associated with the Orator's attendance at, and participation in, the ASLIA National Winterschool or AGM will be met by ASLIA National and/or the organising committee for the Winterschool.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING ORATORS:

Candidates under consideration for the presentation of the JW Flynn Oration should meet the following critieria, as determined by the ASLIA National executive:

• Outstanding contribution to the field of Auslan interpreting
  
• ASLIA membership of 2 years or more
  
• Widely respected amongst peers
  
• Australian citizen or permanent resident
  

All ASLIA members are eligible to nominate a fellow member to present the prestigious JW Flynn Oration. Submissions should address the forementioned criteria in as much detail as possible, as the ASLIA National executive can only assess applications based on the information received, rather than personal or professional knowledge of an applicant.

The ASLIA National executive decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into once the Orator has been selected.

Click to download the criteria and nomination form:  JW Flynn Oration_Critera 75.00 Kb