在一次移民局电话口译工作中，工作人员问了一个看似简单却非常关键的问题：“您是授权人吗？”
客户毫不犹豫地回答：“是。”作为NAATI认证普通话口译员，我如实翻译。
但这个问题背后，其实涉及一个很多人容易误解的法律概念——“授权人”（authorised person）。
什么是“授权人”
在日常理解中，很多人认为口头同意就算授权，家人朋友帮忙处理事情就是授权，中介代办等同授权，或者只要知道全部申请信息就可以代表当事人。
但在澳洲法律和政府体系中，authorised person通常指经过正式书面授权的人。没有书面授权文件，政府机构一般不会透露申请信息，也不会接受第三方咨询。这种规定不仅适用于移民局，也同样适用于税务局、银行、Centrelink等官方机构。
实际案例结果
在电话中，移民局核对信息后发现，这位客户确实了解申请人的全部资料，也确实协助处理了整个申请。但由于没有正式书面授权，因此不能代表申请人继续咨询。
最终客户只有两个选择：提供正式授权文件，或者由申请人本人直接联系移民局。这体现了澳洲对个人隐私保护和信息安全的严格制度。
口译员的角色与边界
在这种场景中，口译员往往能够察觉双方可能存在理解偏差。但根据NAATI译员职业道德准则，译员必须保持中立，不增加或删减信息，不提供法律建议，也不替双方解释法律问题。
口译员的职责是准确传递信息，而不是充当顾问或替双方解决问题。在政府口译、法律口译或移民口译场景中，这种职业边界尤为重要。
翻译不仅是语言转换
很多人以为翻译只是把“授权人”翻译成authorised person就结束了。但真实口译实践中，语言只是沟通的一部分。
在跨语言沟通中，经常会存在法律制度差异、文化背景差异、教育程度差异以及对政府流程理解不同。即使有NAATI认证普通话口译员在场，误解仍然可能发生。
在这种情况下，译员可以在保持中立前提下提醒可能存在理解差异，由英文服务方进一步澄清，再继续进行准确翻译。
结语
“授权人”并不仅仅是一个翻译问题，而是涉及法律责任、隐私保护以及制度规范的重要概念。
作为NAATI普通话口译员，在政府电话口译和移民口译实践中，我们既需要语言能力，也需要理解法律边界和职业规范。
如果您需要澳洲移民口译、政府电话口译或专业普通话翻译服务，欢迎联系。
Understanding “Authorised Person”: A NAATI Mandarin Interpreter’s Immigration Call Case Analysis (Bilingual)
During a recent immigration telephone interpreting assignment, the officer asked a seemingly simple yet legally significant question: “Are you an authorised person?”
The client answered immediately “Yes.” As a NAATI-certified Mandarin interpreter, my role was to interpret faithfully and neutrally.
However, this question often reveals a common misunderstanding about what an “authorised person” means within the Australian legal and administrative context.
What does “authorised person” mean
Many people assume authorisation simply means verbal permission, helping a family member, acting informally as an agent, or knowing all the details of an application.
Legally, however, an authorised person generally requires formal written authorisation. Without documentation, government agencies usually cannot disclose personal information or discuss application details with third parties. This applies not only to immigration authorities but also to organisations such as the ATO, banks and Centrelink.
What happened in this case
Verification during the call showed that the client did know all the application details and had genuinely assisted throughout the process. However, there was no formal written authorisation, so they could not continue the enquiry on behalf of the applicant.
The options were either to provide written authorisation documentation or have the applicant contact the authority directly. This reflects Australia’s strong privacy protection framework.
Interpreter neutrality and professional boundaries
Interpreters may recognise potential misunderstandings during assignments. However, according to NAATI professional ethics, interpreters must remain neutral, interpret accurately without additions or omissions, avoid providing legal advice, and not intervene beyond the interpreting role.
Our responsibility is communication accuracy rather than dispute resolution or advisory support. In government, legal and immigration interpreting contexts, maintaining professional boundaries is essential.
Translation involves more than language
Many people think translation simply means converting “授权人” (shòu quán rén in Chinese Pinyin) into “authorised person.” In practice, interpreting often involves navigating differences in legal systems, cultural expectations, administrative procedures and communication styles.
Even with a certified NAATI Mandarin interpreter present, misunderstandings can still occur. In such situations, interpreters may neutrally indicate possible confusion so that the English-speaking provider can clarify before interpretation continues.
Final thoughts
The concept of an authorised person is not merely a vocabulary issue. It reflects legal responsibility, privacy protection and compliance within Australia’s institutional framework.
As NAATI Mandarin interpreters working in immigration and government interpreting contexts, maintaining neutrality while facilitating clear communication is essential.
If you require professional Mandarin interpreting, immigration telephone interpreting or NAATI-certified Chinese translation services in Australia, feel free to get in touch.
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