Extremely Isolated But Still Connected: Sign Language Interpreting in the World’s Most Remote Communities

Extremely Isolated But Still Connected: Sign Language Interpreting in the World's Most Remote Communities

(ALL TICKET HOLDERS AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE THE RECORDING)

It’s often been said that sign language interpreting can be an isolating profession, but what is it like being a sign language interpreter when your nearest colleagues may be hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away?

Join AIMS for a unique international panel of three sign language interpreters working in remote communities across Australia, the Maldives and Iceland.

In a live Q&A, they'll share the realities of working in geographic isolation: the challenges, the unexpected advantages, and the creative ways they stay connected to colleagues and the wider interpreting profession.

Topics include:

• Professional isolation

• Travelling long distances for assignments

• Access in remote communities

• Working without regular co-interpreting opportunities

• Technology and remote interpreting

• Maintaining boundaries and wellbeing

• What the wider profession can learn from interpreters working far from major cities

🌏 PANELLISTS

🇦🇺 Michelle Lewin — Broome, Western Australia
🇲🇻 Mariyam Fazni — The Maldives
🇮🇸 Unnur Unnsteinsdóttir — North Iceland

Host: Alana Wiekart — AIMS, Perth, Western Australia

📅 WHEN

Monday 7 December 2026

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIAN TIME ZONES
WA: 5:00–7:00 PM
NT: 6:30–8:30 PM
SA: 7:30–9:30 PM
AEDT: 8:00–10:00 PM

🌏 INTERNATIONAL TIME ZONES
🇳🇿 Auckland: 10:00 PM–12:00 AM
🇬🇧 London: 9:00–11:00 AM
🇲🇻 Maldives: 2:00–4:00 PM
🇮🇸 Reykjavik: 9:00–11:00 AM
🇺🇸 New York: 4:00–6:00 AM

LANGUAGE ACCESS

Presented in English with captions, and interpreted into International Sign and Auslan. Time zone not working for you? Can’t join live? No problem! All ticket holders automatically receive the recording!

🎟 TICKETS

Every ticket includes live attendance or access to the recording.

Deaf Community: AUD $30
Students: AUD $40
Interpreters: AUD $50

Come and learn perspectives we rarely get to discuss and connect with colleagues from around the world. Even when interpreters are extremely isolated, we can still be connected.