Quentin Bryce joins ILF as its Patron

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of the Honourable Quentin Bryce AD CVO as its Patron in 2015.

In this role Quentin Bryce will help to leverage awareness and funding for the Foundation’s work to address literacy levels in remote communities across Australia.

Quentin Bryce said that in her role as Governor General she had travelled extensively to many remote communities across Australia and seen the huge challenges and barriers to literacy.

Quentin said she cares deeply about equality of opportunity for Indigenous Australians, and especially in education, in giving children the best start. 

“We know that literacy is the key to choice, to income security, to developing potential –  and it is the key to an enriching and rewarding life.  That is why the work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is so important”, she said.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is a not-for-profit charity that has delivered over 120,000 free and culturally appropriate books to more than 250 remote Indigenous communities and service organisations across Australia. Resources are an essential first step in communities where there are simply no books in homes, no bookshops and where only 36% of the population can access a library. 

In its four years as a Foundation, ILF has published and funded over 40 community literacy projects, many of which have been published in first languages.

The Foundation’s core aim is to address literacy at the earliest age and its early literacy Book Buzz project works in a small number of communities.  In one of these, Warburton, books have been translated into first language and have helped significantly improve literacy standards within the community.

One of Ms Bryce’s first roles in 2015 will be to launch a beautiful facsimile edition of THE LEGENDS OF MOONIE JARL, the first Aboriginal children’s book in Australia, originally published in 1964. 

Quentin Bryce was the 25th Governor-General of Australia, holding office from September 2008-March 2014.  She was the first woman to hold the position, and was previously the Governor of Queensland 2003-2008.

For further information please contact Karen Williams, Executive Director on (02) 9280 0655 or mobile: 04040 75924

• Posted 06 February, 2015