Address by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for that spectacular performance.

I acknowledge the traditional keepers of this land and pay respects to their ancestors.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am thrilled to join you here for Indigenous Literacy Day.

It is wonderful to know that this day is being celebrated at events right across our nation.

Here in our Parliament and in schools, libraries and bookshops everywhere.

Generous people donating time and money to help raise awareness of the pressing need to improve literacy skills in Indigenous communities.

There is nothing more important they could do. Indigenous Literacy Day reminds us that we can all make a contribution.

One of the nominated targets of the Council of Australian Governments is the halving of the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade.

The recently released 5th Report on Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage shows that progress is mixed, and that there's an enormous task ahead.

Australians care deeply about equality of opportunity for Indigenous Australians, and most particularly in education, in giving children the best start. We know that education is the key to choice, to income security, to developing potential - the key to an enriching and rewarding life.

Many are taking action, supporting programs to develop students, giving extra homework help, creating environments conducive to study with the technology and the books young ones need.

Last month in the Pilbara I was thrilled by the lively connections I shared with Grade 8-10s in the Gumula Mirnuwarni Education Project - an after school program at Karratha set up by Rio Tinto and the Polly Farmer Foundation.

I could see the confidence building and the camaraderie shining through as students help each other out with guidance and encouragement from highly skilled mentors who understand the challenges and the special needs of these kids.

Their literacy and numeracy skills are enhanced every day as they keep up with their studies.

Kate rightly observed, you need to visit these remote communities to understand just how few resources they have.

Juliet, I congratulate you on your new status as an independent Foundation.

I understand that you have been given added weight by the enthusiastic contribution of authors and ILF ambassadors like Kate Grenville, David Malouf and Dr Anita Heiss.

Children's writer Andy Griffith plays a key role as an ILF Ambassador.

The Naked Boy and the Crocodile is the result of his workshops for 6+ kids in remote communities. He encouraged them to both write and illustrate their stories.

It is an inspiring and insightful collection.

In the past two and a half years, the ILF has supplied 70,000 books to more than 200 remote communities.

Suzy Wilson, the singularly determined Founder of ILF, told me a lovely story about Delicia - a young girl from the Kimberleys.

On meeting a newly appointed teacher she mentioned she spoke 5 languages!

My mother's language, my father's language, Daisy Bell's language Kriol and English.

That is the reality for many Indigenous children. So skilled and culturally enriched from an early age, but only encountering English when they first go to school.

That's why I love the The Book Buzz project.

It is aimed at babies and preschoolers and translates books into the local language. It is a practical and touching way of engaging Elders to also learn by reading with the young ones in both English and their own first language.

Friends, I congratulate all the schools here in the ACT on your support.

You are helping young Indigenous Australians in a constructive and generous way.

What may seem a small donation by you in The Great Book Swap will make a significant difference to a child in a remote Indigenous community.

The ILF has already raised over $65,000 towards its goal of $500,000. Programs are now in place in over 260 schools.

Friends, I am proud of the great strides the Foundation has already taken.

I wish you much success as you continue to build on these early breakthroughs.

To all those who have participated in this Ceremony, thank you for making this Indigenous Literacy Day so special.

Some images from the day

Images taken by Prudence Upton captured the beautiful spirit of the day.