Migrant advocates are calling on the federal gvernment not to forget family violence victims from non-English speaking communities.
Social workers say there is a major lack of trained interpreters and an increasing number of cases of people failing to remain impartial in translating for victims.
Abby Dinham reports.
The chairwoman of the inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence, Faye Spiteri, says she has heard numerous complaints about interpreters, like these:
"'The interpreter tried to convince me to reconcile with my husband, criticised me for taking legal action, interrupted me to advise that, according to the Koran, women must obey their husband's sexual demands.'"
Ms Spiteri says she hears varied stories of vulnerable women fleeing abusive relationships who, first being betrayed by their partners, then are abused by those employed to help them.
"Where an interpreter, who's meant to be impartial in that situation, is actually criticising them can be exceptionally damaging for that woman, for her confidence, but especially for raising her voice."
Mirna Cicioni, a registered Italian interpreter for 20 years, says there is a wide awareness of the problem among people working with domestic violence victims.
"We all are aware. We know that they happen. And they wouldn't happen if we had specific training."
Ms Cicioni is part of a push to establish a specialised training course for interpreters dealing in domestic violence situations.
Professionals Australia represents workers in service.
The group's Matt Harris says those wanting to register as interpreters have to sit language exams but are not required to take specialised training in dealing with vulnerable clients.
"There is an accreditation system, but there is no mandatory requirement for training for translators and interpreters in Australia, and that creates some real problems."
They are problems the Indian community is well aware of.
Jasvinder Sidhu is a founder of Jagriti, a service for Indian victims of domestic violence that runs in Melbourne's western suburbs.
He says he has also heard stories of negative experiences with interpreters from domestic violence victims, and he recounts one particular tale.
"The interpreter basically told her that a little bit of violence was okay and she should compromise, (that) probably it was better for her future and for her family."
Mr Sidhu says a major problem is many interpreters come from the migrant community and, many times, everyone knows each other.
He says when a vulnerable woman receives advice from an interpreter in a domestic violence situation, she is likely to follow it.
"If somebody tells them that they should compromise, they may follow, because they may think that this is what is good for them, because they are used to listening to others -- seniors, elders -- and, whatever elders say, it is believed that that is right for you."
A VicHealth survey of attitudes towards domestic violence in migrant communities shows they are at odds with the attitudes of wider Australia.
The report shows one in three from migrant communities believe domestic violence should be handled privately, compared to 13 per cent of the Australian-born community.
And 19 per cent said a woman should stay in a violent relationship for the sake of the family, compared to six per cent for domestic-born Australians.
Jasvinder Sidhu says many women who report family violence to police face further victimisation in their community.
"They're living an independent life, but they're totally isolated from the community, because, whenever they go back to the community, the community repeatedly asks them questions -- 'Who is your husband? Okay, what happened?' Whose mistake it was. And then they victimise them further."
Over 200 languages are spoken in Australia, but nationally accredited interpreters cover only about half of those.
A lack of registered interpreters often forces police to call on family, friends and even children to translate for victims of domestic violence.
Sergeant Brad Turney, the Family Violence Liaison Coordinator for the Epping police station north of Melbourne, says only older children are used in emergency situations.
"If we do use a child, it's just for an initial risk assessment to take immediate action. In my experience, when it has occurred, the victims were also very wary of what to tell a family member or a friend, because, sometimes, they don't want those people knowing what has occurred."
He says the time it takes to get an appropriate interpreter is critical because waiting too long or a negative experience with interpreters can lead victims to withdraw their complaints.
"We may lose that person, and they may decide not to speak to us again for another five to 10 years. So, any information we get, we have to take the appropriate action immediately."
