Check out what's happening at the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Something we absolutely love about our work is that we get to showcase the diversity and adaptability of Indigenous languages. Our Book Buzz team are currently working on translating eight books into three different dialects of Kriol, the most widely-spoken Aboriginal language in Australia today. Spoken by an estimated 20,000 or more Aboriginal people in communities throughout a large part of northern Australia, Kriol is a real, full and vibrant language. And having books available in these languages is something our Early Literacy Manager Linda and Book Buzz Regional Coordinator Josie are passionate about. “Twenty-three of our Book Buzz books...
This week is Early Learning Matters Week, a time for educators, parents and communities to come together to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of early learning. At the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, we know that high-quality education supports children to be confident and enthusiastic learners. We also know that play-based learning and learning in your first language makes a huge difference, and builds a foundation for emotional wellbeing and achievement throughout your life. Early Literacy Manager Linda and Program Coordinator Cindy are both passionate about education in early years, and have worked in a variety of early childhood settings. ...
Learning to read is something that many of us take for granted. But what if you already speak two or three languages other than English before you start school? And what if there were no books at all published in your first languages? This is the reality for many Indigenous children living in remote communities. And it’s something that our Foundation is passionate about changing. Through our Book Buzz program, an early literacy learning program aimed at babies and toddlers, we’ve been supporting communities across the country to translate old favourites into first languages. Our Early Literacy Manager Linda and...
“When the books arrive we’re all very excited,” says Kate Scott, Family Educator at the Alpurrurulam School FaFT Unit. About 400 people live in Alpurrurulam, in the NT, but just 17 km from the Queensland border. The mail is delivered once a week, on Friday, by air. But with COVID restrictions in place over the past few months, the pilot has had to bring the plane into the taxiing area and leave the Australia Post bags on the tarmac for collection, before climbing back into his seat and taking off again. The Shire manager then picks up the bags full of letters...
When Iris Menzies, a recent linguistic graduate from the University of Sydney, attended the PULiiMA conference in Darwin last year, she was delighted to find children’s books written in Kriol, and well-known children’s books with Indigenous language translations. Iris got talking to the team at the Indigenous Literacy Foundation booth and they offered her a sample of books to take back to the community she works in. “I thought it was really cool!” said Iris. Iris knows how important Indigenous language is to communities. For the last 6 months she has held the position as the Language Services Facilitator at...
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation works as an initiative of the Australian Book Industry with the support of:
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is registered with the ACNC and is a Public Benevolent Institution with DGR1 and TCC status. ABN 45 146 631 843.
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