Australia is a nation of readers, with reading the second most popular way we engage with art, culture and creativity (after listening to recorded music). Yet 44% of us have low or very low literacy, 25% haven’t read a book in the last year, and recent research shows a 7% drop in the number of young people reading for pleasure.
Nearly double the number of Australians engage in reading every week than playing or watching sport, but sport takes place in the public realm and is so is seen as more integral to and defining of the Australian identity – including receiving significantly more investment.
Imagine the state of abundance we could achieve if we invested more in reading: a nation in which reading is visible and valued across all levels, formats and genres, literacy is rising and understood in different ways, writers are able to sustain viable careers, all Australian stories are able to be told free of stereotypes or silencing, and in which the full potential of reading is realised as a tool to inform and inspire, educate and entertain, as well as to change minds and save lives.
Read more in my wrap up of last month’s VOLUME national reading symposium on the Australia Reads website.
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LARSEN | KEYS 