Even after graduating as a Professor of Sociology, working as a teacher and raising three children, Paul still found time to work as an interpreter because his skills were so needed by the community.
After having clocked up nearly 45 years with Multicultural NSW, Paul was one of 11 professional interpreters recognised at NSW Parliament House for their longtime efforts and the essential role they play on International Translation Day on September 30.
Census data shows one in four (26 per cent) of people in NSW use a language other than English at home.
As well as contributing to the development of an Arabic glossary, Paul’s work was critical during covid and he says that in the last four decades, thousands of people have benefited from his bilingual skills.
“I’ll be walking down the street and someone will come up to me and ask if I remember them,” the 70-year-old retired sociology teacher and now researcher said.
“They’ll say that I did a great job for them, helping them in a course, getting their driver’s licence or supporting them in court in a range of matters.
“I’ve been to countless medical appointments with Arabic-speaking residents, assisted in worker’s compensation matters and in many more areas.”
He said it was an extremely satisfying role helping people but it was also sometimes challenging supporting them to overcome all kinds of cultural barriers.
“I’m very grateful for this recognition and hope I can be of help interpreting for many years to come.”
Arabic interpreter wins award over long service
AFTER arriving in Australia from Lebanon as a 17-year-old in 1970, Greenacre’s Paul Tabar undertook part-time university study and relied on his job as an Arabic interpreter to pay the bills.
