Dates set for National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2015

01 May 2015 Media release

Students, teachers and parents have a week of exciting reading, writing and mathematics activities to look forward to after it was announced today that National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2015 will take place from 31 August to 6 September.

Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the dates align the Week with Indigenous Literacy Day on September 2 and the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards on September 4.

“National Literacy and Numeracy Week recognises the crucial role played by parents and teachers towards developing strong reading, writing and mathematical skills in young people,” Mr Pyne said.

“As a parent myself, I make a point of reading to my kids as a way of encouraging them to enjoy the creative benefits that reading brings.

“There will be a range of fun literacy activities including Read for Australia and A Poem in Your Pocket, while students should keep an eye on the website over coming weeks and months for further details about the exciting numeracy activity.”

Schools are also encouraged to participate in the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s Great Book Swap, as part of Indigenous Literacy Day.

“To get involved, schools can register through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s website. Once this is done, all students need to do is take along one of their favourite books, and for a gold coin donation, they can swap it for somebody else's,” Mr Pyne said.

“All the money raised as part of the Great Book Swap will be donated to support the great work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.”

Indigenous Literacy Day helps raise funds for the purchase of books and other reading materials that aim to improve the literacy levels of Indigenous Australians living in remote communities.

Mr Pyne also urged students to submit their poetry entries for the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards before 30 June. The Awards aim to inspire students to express their imaginations and love for country through poetry.

For more information about National Literacy and Numeracy Week, visit www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au.

For more information about Indigenous Literacy Day, visit www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au.

For more information about the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, visit www.dorothea.com.au.