Staff members at the Department of Human Services (DHS) have created a digital book to raise funds for Indigenous literacy.
The book contains information on subjects such as the Indigenous origins of Melbourne suburb names and drawings of much loved pets.
Staff of DHS have already raised more than $50,000 this year for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation which gives children’s books to remote Indigenous communities around Australia.
Executive Director of the Foundation, Karen Williams said it also helped communities write their own stories and supported a structured story time program in playgroups.
“The fundraising is vital for us to continue the important work we do. It’s about getting kids engaged and spreading the joy of reading,” Ms Williams said.
“Early literacy is the key. We provide books where there are none, written both in English and local languages.”
DHS staff member in Brisbane, Dale Jackson who came up with the idea, said the digital book encouraged people to write, draw and be creative.
Staff members were able to buy a page for $10 and let their imaginations run wild.
“I’m passionate about promoting the work the foundation does to encourage a love of reading by supplying books to children in remote Indigenous communities,” Ms Jackson said.
She said students in Year One at Victoria’s Murrumbeena Primary School jumped at the chance to be involved with their artwork (pictured) inspired by the Aboriginal word from which their suburb was named —Mirambeena, the land of frogs.
Ms Williams said the Indigenous Literacy Foundation had distributed around 350,000 books in communities around Australia since it was established in 2004.
Information about the work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation can be accessed at this PS News link.
