Grace recognises its responsibility to contribute to the greater economic and cultural empowerment of First Australian’s to help ‘close the gap’. Grace has been partnering with The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) to empower and build the capability for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote Australia to develop and pursue their own literacy journeys.
We have recently setup an ILF Reading Opens Doors Library in our offices in Sydney and Melbourne. The aim of the library is to encourage Grace staff members to engage with Indigenous literature and children’s stories and create opportunities to start conversations in the workplace.
What is Reading Opens Doors Library?
The library is free of charge for all Grace staff to borrow a range of books for themselves or their family members to read and learn more about First Nations languages and culture.
The library consists of 17 books including texts by award-winning authors like Bruce Pascoe, Anita Heiss and Tara June Winch and Kim Scott. The collection also includes children’s picture books, young adult and adult titles.
According to the ILF, “only 36% of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas are at or above national minimum reading standards, compared to 96% for non-Indigenous students in major cities” *, creating a big literacy gap. The support Grace provides allows the ILF to purchase and distribute thousands of books, throughout these communities, many of which are written and illustrated by Indigenous authors and artists.
To learn more about the ILF and to read more about their program visit their website.
