{"id":14014,"date":"2022-09-07T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T22:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.emotedigital.com.au\/?p=14014"},"modified":"2022-09-19T12:53:12","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T02:53:12","slug":"indigenous-literacy-day-2022-celebrating-stories-cultures-languages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/indigenous-literacy-day-2022-celebrating-stories-cultures-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigenous Literacy Day 2022: Celebrating Stories, Cultures & Languages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you’re a die-hard bookworm or only read when you really have to, we all know how important literacy is for getting on in life – whether written, visual or auditory.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Literacy supports our employability, our ability to engage in social and community activities, and a whole range of other important life factors.<\/p>\n

So, imagine if you were to miss out on some of the foundational building blocks for developing literacy. What kind of impact would that have on your life?<\/p>\n

Indigenous Literacy Day seeks to highlight the answers to this question – and provide proactive solutions for communities that need literacy support.<\/p>\n

What is Indigenous Literacy Day?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In many remote communities across Australia, there is often no infrastructure such as libraries or bookstores that helps with the accessibility to literature for children and young people in those communities to literature.<\/p>\n

When access to a variety of reading materials that address different literacy capabilities is limited, it can impact the achievement and education of young people in those communities. In most instances, these are Indigenous children.<\/p>\n

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation <\/a>was founded by Suzy Wilson, owner of Riverbend Books in Brisbane, to address this.<\/p>\n

In 2004, Suzy launched the Riverbend Readers’ Challenge to raise funds to improve literacy outcomes in remote Australia.<\/p>\n

Since then, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation has worked with over 400 remote communities, gifted 636,000 books, supplied 83 playgroups with early literacy Book Buzz resources, and published 143 books reflecting 26 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.<\/p>\n

Indigenous Literacy Day<\/a> is an opportunity to celebrate the foundation’s work, share stories, culture and language and continue raising awareness for literacy’s role and importance in Indigenous communities.<\/p>\n

On the 7th of September – Indigenous Literacy Day – the foundation will hold a short 20-minute online event with a lively group of children in remote Milikapiti and Jilkminggan in the Northern Territory so they can joyfully share their Stories, Cultures and Languages.<\/p>\n

Find out more and register here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3 Ways to Get Involved<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The more we learn about the inequalities across our communities, the more we have the power to do something about it.<\/p>\n

Making a difference doesn’t have to be huge – there are many small ways to create an impact, show your support and share awareness for these issues.<\/p>\n

Here are three ways to show your support and get involved this Indigenous Literacy Day:<\/p>\n

1. Hold a <\/strong>Great Book Swap<\/strong><\/a><\/h5>\n

A great way to support the day is by holding a book swap!<\/p>\n

You could get a selection of your friends together, hold one in your neighbourhood or get your whole school involved! There are lots of resources and tips<\/a> for doing this on the Indigenous Literacy Foundation website, but here are a few pointers:<\/p>\n