Danielle Ferndale

President

Vice-President

Kim-Ann Lyons

Secretary

Allan Chilcott

Treasurer

I started my Auslan education in 2017, simply to learn a new language. After a big career shift, I became a NAATI-accredited interpreter in January 2023. I am an avid theatre goer. You’ll see me at every Queensland Theatre show – come up and say hi! I am excited to be part of organizing professional development needed to advance interpreter skills and benefit the Deaf community. My life direction has changed completely and I owe so much to the Deaf community that has shared their language and culture with me.

Natalie Waldmeier

General Committee Member

I started learning Auslan in 2018 as a hobby, but immediately fell in love with both the language and the Deaf community. I didn’t start out with the plan of becoming a qualified interpreter, but I am thrilled with where my path has led. After finishing the Diploma of Interpreting in 2021, I passed the NAATI exam in 2022 and have been doing community interpreting since. I also work part time as a booking officer for a fantastic team who help me hone my skills every day.

General Committee Member

Camilla Smith

General Committee Member

Hi! My name is Camilla and here’s a little bit about my sign language journey. I was born in the U.K. and I started learning British Sign Language (BSL) in 2012. I worked  as a Communication Support Worker (CSW) in two colleges up until I moved to Australia in 2018. I transitioned over to Auslan and worked as an Educational Interpreter (EI) with a wonderful supportive team. After completing the Diploma of Interpreting course in 2020 I achieved my CPI licence thanks to many wonderful Deaf role models, teachers and friends. Since then I have been working in a variety of settings as a freelance interpreter and I have been an ASLIA committee member since 2022. I feel fortunate to be a part of ASLIA as I am able to support and give back to the interpreting and Deaf community!

Helen Boddice

General Committee Member

My name is Helen Boddice.  I currently work as an educational interpreter and freelance interpret in between school, university and family.  I have been in education now for about nine years and hope to one day become a teacher.  After completing the Diploma of Interpreting at Deaf Services Queensland I gained my paraprofessional accreditation in late 2018.  This started a massive learning curve as I traversed my way through the vast differences between education and community interpreting.  I am looking forward to supporting ALSIA with their vision and learning new skills along the way.

Candace Wellington

General Committee Member

Candace had her first taste of learning Auslan at Newcastle University in NSW but took a few years, a bit of life searching and encouragement to eventually end up completeing the Diploma of Auslan at Melbourne Polytechnic in 2016, going on to complete the Diploma of Interpreting at RMIT and successfully passing the NATTI exam in 2017 before starting her journey as a freelance community interpreter at a CPI level from 2018 to present day. Candace started her interpreting life in Melbourne before making the move to the sunshine state in early 2021. She is looking forward to broadening her experience in the realm of interpreting by being involved in the ASLIAQ committee.