From the Library Resource Centre (LRC)
SLRC News
Last week I sent a Schoolbox Library Resources post to staff, parents and students regarding a webinar which was held yesterday afternoon, organised by Education Services Australia and Student Wellbeing Hub. The speaker was Anna Burkey, Head of Australia Reads organisation, and the webinar title was “How reading can support children’s health and wellbeing”.
This was a very interesting discussion from Anna, who shared what was happening with Australian and international reading rates, using the Australia Reads 2025 Report : Understanding Australian Readers. This report discusses the reading journey from birth to adulthood, and unpacked the skills that children develop along their journey and the long-term benefits reading brings to their wellbeing and behaviour. Anna shared practical examples to illustrate what teachers and parents can do to foster a love of reading in young people. Anna also explored the barriers to reading including capability, opportunity and motivation.
The webinar listed the main groups benefits of reading as:
- Family bonding and brain development;
- Learning and education;
- Mental and physical health.
The below diagrams illustrate the reading journey and the benefits of reading using statistics.
As this webinar was recorded, I will add the details to the Community Library Resources page when this resource becomes available, along with more information on School Libraries and Reading.
Anna Burkey also discussed the many types of readers and their characteristics. Which type are you? I think I might be Aspirational - infrequent reader but still eager to read, with the challenge of being time poor.
Further resources on the benefits of reading can be found at : Australia Reads Resources - Benefits of reading. The Understanding Australian Readers report and Executive Summary can also be found on the Community Library Resources page.
The Student Wellbeing Hub also includes resources to assist students on anxiety, autism, mental health and wellbeing, social and emotional skills, respectful relationships, and more!
I hope these resources on the Benefits of Reading are useful to Families, and encourage all of us to pick up books more to enhance our health and wellbeing.
Best regards,
Elisabeth Wells
Senior Library Information Services Technician