Indigenous Literacy Foundation

We are a national book industry charity dedicated to lifting literacy levels in remote Indigenous communities, so all children across Australia have the same choices and opportunities.

Being able to read opens so many doors. But in very remote Indigenous communities, books are all too scarce and literacy levels are so much lower than anywhere else in Australia. Our purpose is to make a difference to the lives of Indigenous families by not only gifting thousands of new culturally appropriate books – with a focus on early literacy and first language – but also by running programs to inspire the communities to tell and publish their own stories.

Remote Indigenous communities across Australia

• Book Supply – provides access to quality books and reading materials. We offer packs of new, culturally appropriate books to organisations based in remote communities where there are few or no books. Over the past 10 years, we have supplied over 500,000 books to over 400 communities – 40 percent of which were created by Indigenous authors and illustrators.

• Book Buzz – supports community playgroups or Families as First Teachers and KindiLink programs to work with and empower families to feel confident to read and share books together with their babies and toddlers, in the languages they speak at home. This storytime program encourages the development of important pre-literacy skills and an early love of reading. The program includes a catalogue of books, a suite of resources and funding to assist in translating books. 

• Community Literacy Projects – engage children and adults and other members of the community to create and publish books. It’s about creating books, by the community, for the community in the languages they choose the books to be in. Many of the projects are produced with the support from many of Australia’s renowned authors and illustrators.

Book Supply gifts new, engaging, and culturally appropriate books to communities that need them. We have supplied over 500,000 books to over 400 communities, 40% by Indigenous authors and illustrators. 

Book Buzz promotes early literacy and familiarity with books in children under five with a dedicated story-time session. Carers are supported to share books with their children in home languages and in English. 

Community Literacy Projects produces and publishes books by Indigenous people for Indigenous people. These books are important because they represent culture, community life and language.

Program Director – Tina Raye

Early Literacy Manager – Linda Augusto

Marketing Manager – Lisa Flower

Relationship Manager – David Stewart

Chair – Dr Marnie O’Bryan

Secretary – Anna Low

Leitha Assan

Mark Rubbo

Louise Sherwin-Stark

Alicia Stewart

Michael Aird

Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs

Yalmay Yunupingu

Laura Harris 

Have you ever wondered how the gift of reading can transform someone’s life? A gift in your Will is the greatest commitment that you can make a lasting difference to the lives of children living in remote communities across Australia.

You can find more information here.

We receive no Government support, and rely on the generosity of donors to keep our Foundation and programs running. A donation of just $10 gifts a new book to a child in a remote community, while $400 will gift an early literacy pack to a playgroup in an Indigenous remote community. 

You can make a donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation here.

From running a fundraiser, to partnering with us, or even volunteering, you can find other ways to support us here.

You can find all current vacancies here.

You can find all volunteering opportunities here.