Closing the literacy gap requires more than lip service

Across Australia, there remains a significant gap in education standards between students who are living in disadvantaged circumstances and those who are not.

This disparity is especially prevalent in remote Indigenous communities, where literacy and numeracy levels are substantially lower than in non-Indigenous communities.

As leading providers of educational resources for early learning centres, primary schools and secondary schools, we at Officeworks believe that every child should have equal access to a quality education.

We are committed to promoting strong educational outcomes for all Australian students, no matter their circumstances.

That’s why we are so proud to launch our annual Literacy is Freedom Appeal this September.

Celebrating 13 years of partnership with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF), the appeal has raised more than $4.2million, supported 35,000 students and continues to provide life-changing support to improve the literacy levels of Indigenous and marginalised children across Australia.

ALNF is a national charity dedicated to supporting people in the most marginalised communities to gain vital language, literacy, and communication skills.

Its specialised and innovative programs address the needs of a diverse range of individuals, children, and communities – specifically First Nations, refugee, and other vulnerable Australians.

For more than a decade, Officeworks long-standing partnership with ALNF has empowered communities and made a life-changing impact on the literacy and educational outcomes of Australian children.

This collaboration has not only transformed lives but also driven systemic, community-led change, by working tirelessly to close the literacy gap and ensure that all children thrive in school, no matter their circumstances.

For example, since 2016 ALNF has proudly worked with the deeply passionate and inspiring educators at Gillen Primary School in Alice Springs.

Through the generosity of Officeworks’ team members, community members and customers, ALNF’s team of early language and literacy trainers have worked closely with educators and teaching support staff to design and deliver innovative literacy and intervention practices.

Their efforts also include introducing the use of the ALNF’s world-first Early Language & and Literacy Development Index (ELLDI) to aid decision-making.

In 2023, 192 children at Gillen Primary School and its on-site preschool were supported through the Early Language and Literacy Program. They included 155 Indigenous children.

At Officeworks, we have also collaborated with Indigenous artists, Natalie Jade, and Zowie Baumgart over the past two years to release a bespoke stationery collection. Fifty cents from every product sold is donated to ALNF.

Donations from this range supported ALNF’s ‘Living First Languages’ platform, which focuses on preserving, revitalising, and teaching First Nations' languages.

The Literacy is Freedom Appeal, which runs throughout September, forms part of Officeworks' People and Planet Positive Plan commitment to raising $5 million for local causes between 2020 and 2025 and supporting 30,000 students who need it most.

Having already supported more than 40,000 students since 2020, and more than 16,000 Australian students in FY23 alone, we have revised this goal and we now aim to help 60,000 students by 2025.

Customers can support the appeal throughout September by donating at the checkout at Officeworks in-store or online, or purchasing an Officeworks and Literacy is Freedom tote bag designed by Aboriginal artist Merindah-Gunya.

Together with the generosity of our customers and local communities, we are excited to help make a real impact in the lives of Australian children through this year's Literacy is Freedom appeal.

To find out more, visit the Officeworks website.

Zoe Cairns is community manager at Officeworks.