The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national, not-for-profit charity focused on improving literacy levels in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Can you imagine not being able to read a newspaper, a road sign or directions on a bottle of medication? Sadly, this is a reality faced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in remote communities today.” – Karen Williams, Executive Director, ILF
Only 34% of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas are at or above national minimum reading standards, compared to 95% for non-Indigenous students in major cities, according to the 2017 National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The situation is improving but there is still a long way to go and the challenges are immense.
Apart from the historical, health, social, and educational challenges, many remote communities don’t have many, if any, books. Most of the remote communities that the Indigenous Literacy Foundation work with report there are less than five books in family homes.
The ILF’s approach in raising literacy levels, is at a community level with supplying appropriate, quality books to organisations operating in remote communities.
“By reading the books with the parents in playgroup, the parents feel more confident about reading to their children when they get their copies to take home. They love them! Wonderful service! Great book choices!” – Claire Levy, Child Health Nurse, South Australian Health, Amata in the APY Lands, South Australia
The Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Booksellers Association, the Australian Society of Authors, and the Children’s Book Council of Australia support the ILF. Its team of ambassadors, volunteers and seven full-time staff get no government support to run their core programs, which give away tens of thousands of new books annually, run literacy projects and organise major fundraising events, including Indigenous Literacy Day.
To help close the literacy gap please go to:
Your donation helps provide books and literacy programs to remote communities, where they are needed most.
