STAFF PROFILE
Dr Erika Gonzalez Garcia
Dr Erika Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in Translating and Interpreting and a Senior Fellow at Advance HE (SFHEA).
Erika has two decades of experience teaching translation and interpreting at undergraduate and postgraduate level in Europe and Australia. Her research focuses on the professionalisation of community interpreting & translation, and the impact language barriers have on non-English speakers. Erika´s research and work focuses on the promotion of professional interpreting & translation services to ensure fair access to the system for those who cannot communicate in the language/s of their host societies.Erika is the Program Manager of the Master, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Translating and interpreting at RMIT University. RMIT´s Translating and Interpreting discipline is a global leader in the delivery of Higher Education courses for new & emerging languages.
Erika also played a strategic role in the design and implementation of a world-class conference interpreting lab at RMIT.
She also introduced Advanced English and Professional English courses in her programs, in order to support the large number of non-English native speaker students in the discipline.
- PhD in Linguistics (University of New South Wales)
- Master by Research (Universidad del Pais Vasco)
- Master in Specialised Translation (Universidad de Valladolid)
- Certificate in Medical Interpreting (University of Massachusetts)
- Certificate in Collaborative Translation Teaching (Universitat de Vic)
- Bachelor in Translating & Interpreting (Universidad de Valladolid)
Erika worked as a legal interpreter in Spain with English-speaking migrants and asylum seekers (mainly with the Sub-Saharan population). Currently she is also an active senior conference interpreter who has worked at high-level international meetings such as the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting; the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; the International Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Leaders Forum and Cochlear Australia among many others. Erika also holds Advanced Translator professional credentials.
She served as the Chair of the Professional Development Committee at the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) from 2015-2017, was the Vice-President from 2017 to 2019 and National President from 2019 to 2022. AUSIT is the national professional association for the translating & interpreting profession in Australia. Currently the organisation has 2,000 members approximately.
Erika was the recipient of the Paul Sinclair Excellence Award in 2022, in recognition of her leadership and distinguished contribution to community engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Erika played a leading role in the development of the AUSIT-FECCA Recommended Protocols for the Translation of Community Communications. She represents AUSIT in various industry and government advisory groups and Committees, such as the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Health Advisory Group.
Research Awards & Grants
Erika has been the recipient of multiple research awards and grants:
- Premier´s Sustainability Award Finalist. Social and Economic Justice Category.
- Professionals Australia industry grant (2020) to assess challenges, needs and future trends in the Translating & Interpreting Industry.
- On Call research grant (2020) in conjunction with Dr Miranda Lai to establish a Best Practice Framework for Translating & Interpreting Service Delivery in Australia
- Language Loop Research & Innovation Grant (2019-2020) in conjunction with Dr Miranda Lai, to introduce mentors for interpreters of new and emerging languages in Australian courts and Tribunals
- Language Loop Research and Innovation Grant (2019-2020) in conjunction with Dr Miranda Lai, to test simultaneous interpreting in Australian Courts.
- Malcolm Moores International Visiting Fellowship (2018)
- Europe Endeavour Award. Department of Education Science and Training (2006-2007)
- Basque Government Grant for the establishment of Fundamentals of Community Interpreting II. (2005)
- Basque Government Grant for the establishment of Fundamentals of Community Interpreting I. (2004)
- Office for Co-operation and Development Grant by Universidad del País Vasco to conduct research on the impact language barriers have on the health of North African women living in the Basque Region. (2005-2006)
- Lai, M.,Gonzalez Garcia, E. (2023). The Multilingual Community Translation Classroom: Challenges and Strategies to Train Profession-Ready Graduates In: Community Translation: Research and Practice, Routledge, Oxon, United Kingdom
- Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Amanatidou, D. (2023). Challenges in Community Translation Service Provision: The Australian Perspective In: Community Translation: Research and Practice, Routledge, Oxon, United Kingdom
- Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Skewes, J. (2023). Assessing career pathways and the viability of the Translator and Interpreter profession In: Translators and Interpreters Australia Melbourne
- Gilbert, A.,Antoniades, J.,Hwang, K.,Gonzalez, E., et al, . (2023). The MINDSET Study: Co-Designing Training for Interpreters in Dementia and Cognitive Assessments In: Dementia, 22, 1604 - 1625
- Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Norma, C.,Garcia-Caro Alcazar, O. (2023). Australia: Navigating the Pandemic and Exploring New Pedagogical Horizons In: Educating Community Interpreters and Translators in Unprecedented Times, Springer, Switzerland
- Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Lai, C. (2022). Chuchotage in community settings In: Translation and Interpreting, 14, 1 - 24
- Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Revolta, A. (2022). A Pedagogical Approach to Work Integrated Learning for Conference Interpreting In: Interpreting in the classroom: Tools for teaching, UCO Press: Cordoba University Press, Cordoba
- Gonzalez Garcia, E. (2022). Altibajos In: El océano Índico traducido (Antología), Universidad de Valladolid , Valladolid, Spain
- Brijnath, B.,Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Hlavac, J.,Enticott, J.,Woodward-Kron, R.,LoGiudice, D.,Low, L.,Antoniades, J.,White, J.,Hwang, K.,Lin, X.,Gilbert, A. (2022). The impact of training on communication quality during interpreter-mediated cognitive assessments: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial In: Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, 8, 1 - 9
- Gonzalez Garcia, E.,Revolta, A.,Ozolins, U. (2022). English proficiency training for interpreters and translators In: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (Victoria State Government) Melbourne
6 PhD Current Supervisions and 2 Masters by Research Current Supervisions
- Testing of useability and applicability of Australian multilingual public service communications. Funded by: Aust Government Department of Health and Aged Care - Competitive from (2023 to 2023)
- Finding the words is easy--or is it?. Funded by: City Of Melbourne - Competitive from (2021 to 2023)
- Improving interpreting for dementia assessments: The MINDSET Study (led by National Ageing Research Institute Limited). Funded by: NHMRC Partnership Project Grant via other University from (2021 to 2024)
- English Language Competence Evaluation and Enhancement for Translators & Interpreters. Funded by: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (Victoria Government) from (2021 to 2023)