Education Australia Project #54395

Empower with literacy

by The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation

Project Report | Jun 9, 2022
Empower with Literacy - June 2022

By Jasmine Flikier | Project Leader

Here at ALNF, we believe that literacy is freedom.

Literacy provides children with the skills they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond, unlocking a world of limitless possibilities.

This belief drives us each and every day, as we continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with First Nations communities across the country, passionate about transforming children’s literacy and education outcomes.

So far this year, we’ve already reached over 6,800 children through our Indigenous First Language and Early Language & Literacy programs.

We have trained, upskilled and empowered educators, parents and community members across 150 sites, as part of our mission for sustained, long-term impact.

We’ve also gifted 602 Literacy Packs filled with the essential learning and school supplies that kids need in their education journey across these sites, and provided 825 inspiring and engaging books to strengthen children’s literacy development, whilst increasing access to books in homes and fostering stronger parent engagement in their children’s learning.

We can’t thank you enough for standing with us each step of the way and helping us ensure that these children can continue to dream big.

Links:

https://alnf.org/

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Feb 9, 2022
Empower with Literacy - Quarterly Report 2021

By Jasmine Flikier | Project Leader

ALNF’s work in Early Language and Literacy, across both English and Indigenous First Language, has been a life-changing investment in community.

The program has developed local capacity, skills and resources to transform children’s literacy and educational outcomes and create systemic, community-led change.

Despite the immense challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across Australia during the reporting period, the ALNF team continued to work tirelessly and shoulder-to-shoulder with our partner communities and the results have been remarkable.

The program has directly benefited the learning outcomes of over 6,700 children, with over 1,700 identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

A staggering 95% of the children tested at the end of 2021 improved their phonological awareness, widely acknowledged as the vital precursor to reading and writing development and success.

In achieving these results, during the reporting period, the ALNF team worked across 153 local sites including early childhood centres, primary schools and community hubs, training, mentoring and upskilling 850 passionate educators and community members, to equip them with expert knowledge, skills and strategies to provide quality early language and literacy teaching.

This training was also supplemented with the provision of 935 engaging children’s books over the reporting period, as well as 550 Literacy Packs distributed to children packed with vital stationery and learning resources.

As part of our vision for a quality and inclusive education for First Nations children, ALNF’s commitment to enhancing ‘Two Way’ early literacy was also maximised through our ongoing work with communities in the development and maintenance of various Language versions of the Living First Language Platform.

The work done around augmenting this digital resource has been largely community-based, enabling community members to take ownership and drive the process, whilst empowering speakers with an expanded range of digital literacy tools to learn to read, write and teach in First Language.

Story of Change: Empowering community through First Language storytelling

Understanding the importance of culturally relevant and locally-driven resources for children in Indigenous communities, ALNF saw the development of Anangu children’s stories into professionally produced books to be shared across the remote APY Lands.

In collaboration with students, teachers, Elders and artists, three stories have been completed in Yankunytjatjara, bringing to life an engaging and authentic First Language book series.

This has been a unique opportunity to showcase and honour stories written by and for Anangu children and families that deeply reflect their own lives, languages and cultures.

The initiative has served to build the capacity and confidence of participating students who have honed vital storytelling and writing skills, and allowed children to meaningfully engage in the development of First Language literacy resources, empowering them to be active contributors to their own literacy development.

The project has also led to a whole-of-community, cross-generational collaboration which has seen students, Anangu Educators and community Elders working together, fostering community engagement and building transgenerational capacity.

Links:

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