Where ILF Works

See the communities where ILF funds have provided books and other literacy resources.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) believes all Indigenous Australians should enjoy the same education, employment and societal opportunities as other citizens. However, a lack of literacy skills among Indigenous communities is a common and critical barrier to participating in activities that many of us take for granted.

To help alleviate this literacy disadvantage, The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is working with remote Indigenous communities in women’s centres, crèches, schools, safe houses, and in art centres. In 2011 The Foundation is working to provide books in over 200 remote communities in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western New South Wales and Western Australia in the areas listed below.

  • Northern Territory
    • Katherine East Region including Manyallaluk & Wugularr
    • East Arnhem Communities. These communities include Gemydu, Angurugu, Milvakburra, Yirrkala, Umbakumba, Numbulwar, Galiwinku
    • Yirrkala Homelands: Uilpara, Gangan, Garrthalala, Boruwuy, Dhalinbuy, Biranybirany, Rurrangala, Gurrumury, Dhuruputjpi, Gutjangan
    • Groote Eylandt & Kilyakburra
    • Gulf Community of Borroloola and Ngukurr
    • Recent orders have been placed with Papunya, Santa Teresa, Tennant Creek, Titjikala, Yuendumu, Nyirripi, Alice Springs, Pickertaramoor, Batchelor, Tennant Creek, Watarru, Harts Range, Gawa (Elcho Island), Alice Springs, Katherine, Nyapari, Kanpi, Nhulunbuy, Milikapti, Minjilang (Croker Island), Jabiru, Woolaning, Katherine, Daly River, Indulkana, Willowra, Ernabella and Kalkaringi
  • Queensland
    • In 2011 over 50 schools in remote & isolated parts of Queensland were targeted to receive supplementary book packages
    • Regional Qld: Aurukun, Pormpuraaw, Wujal Wujal, Lockhart River, Hope Vale, Palm Island, Cherbourg, Mornington Island, Yarrabah, Cunnamulla, Cooktown, Normanton, Birdsville, Dajarra Cloncurry, Boulia, Burketown and Woorabind
    • Northern Peninsular Region: Seisia, Injinoo and New Mapoon.
    • Torres Strait Islands: Thursday Island, Badu, Mabuiag, Kubin, Iama, Hammond (Kiriri), Poruma (Coconut Island),Erub (Darnley),Boigu, Dauan and Warraber (new IKC to open)
  • South Australia
    • Orders have been placed for small groups and communities from Port Augusta and up to Mount Lindsay, in the APY lands on the border of South Australia
    • Other include Wyalla, Marree, Port Lincoln, Ceduna and Pipalyatara/Kalka (SA)
  • New South Wales
    • Western NSW Communities in Brewarrina, Wilcannia, Ivanhoe, Engonnia, Bourke, Menindee Brewarrina, Broken Hill Jerrinja Kempsey Parkes Coonabarabran Boggabilla and Coonamble have placed orders
  • Western Australia
    • Ngaanyatjarra Region (this represents 8 communities -Papulankutja, Mantamaru, Patjarr, Tjirrkarli, Wanarn, Warakurna, Warburton and Wingellina)
    • Some of the recent orders have been for Yakanarra, Karalundi and the Wurreranginy Community (Frog Hollow) located on the Northern Highway between Kununurra, Burringurrah, Leonora, Newman, Laverton, Kwinana, Balgo, Broome, Yiyili, Yardgee, Mardiwah Loop, Koongie Park, Geraldton, Kununurra, Wulungarra/ Kadjina, Menzies, Wyndham and Denham
  • Victoria
    • Communities of Robinvale and Mildura have placed orders

A message from the communities

“Our service has been very fortunate to have received numerous amounts of books over the past two years from the Indigenous Literacy Project. I can!t write in words the extend of our gratitude for the high quality and quantity of books we now have in our literacy library representing not only the indigenous community but also the Australian community. Due to the number of books we have received we have shared them with three other local preschools, a local primary school and the local Aboriginal Health service. Thank you for allowing us to be a recipient of the literacy resources and so many other services across the nation. I have only heard positive comments about the project from professionals, parents and children”. With kindest regards, Lesley Harvey, Centre Director/Teacher/Broken Hill.