Nunga News

Niina marni (Hi, How are you?),

Indigenous Literacy Day

Last Wednesday, 2 September, was Indigenous Literacy Day. This event is held every year by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) and raises money for books for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Only 36% of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas are at, or above, national minimum reading standards, compared to 96% for non-Indigenous students in major cities. 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 disadvantage issues, many remote communities don’t have many, if any, books. Most of the remote communities that the ILF work with report there are fewer than five books in family homes. Their approach to raising literacy levels starts at a community level. Appropriate quality books are gifted to organisations operating in remote communities. They also have a community literacy program where they write books in Aboriginal languages. For more information go to www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au

Nukkun (see ya)

Kath