Indigenous Literacy Day on September 5 will be marked with a book swap by the Indigenous Literary foundation.
What started as a Christmas raffle for Department of Human Services staff member Dale Jackson has turned into a passionate cause to improve the literacy rates of Indigenous Australians.
Ms Jackson said that World Book Day, on April 23 was a time to celebrate and promote the importance of reading, but not everyone had that opportunity.
Ms Jackson, who works in the Brisbane Medicare team, has been raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, a charity addressing the poor literacy rates in remote communities through gifting new books to communities that need them, and publishing community stories, many in first languages.
So far she has raised more than $1200 from her Medicare colleagues with hopes to expand her efforts to other areas of the organisation, including Centrelink and Child Support.
According to the 2017 NAPLAN Report, only 34 per cent per cent of Year 5 indigenous students in very remote areas meet the minimum standard for reading.
“I was looking to raise money for a charity over Christmas when I came across the foundation. The ability to read and write can have a significant impact on someone’s life, particularly from a young age. It is empowering to be able to read,” she said.
The foundation published Two Ways Strong: Jaz’s Story under one of its community literacy project program.
Ms Jackson said the authors came from Torres Strait and Palm Island, but were now completing their education at a boarding school in Toowoomba.
“It’s a big challenge to be away from your home and culture, and this was the premise of the book as they were able to draw on their own experiences.”
More on visit ilf.org.au
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