About the ALNF

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) is dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia and raises funds to develop, implement and sustain innovative projects for individuals, families and communities.

ALNF teaches marginalised Australians how to read and write. ALNF also supports a broad range of individuals (teachers, carers, healthcare workers, community workers, volunteers) in building on their skills to develop good literacy practices in their families and communities.

ALNF's approaches, which are tailored to the specific needs of individual groups and communities, are uniquely effective - and efficient - in delivering observable outcomes and creating real impact.

ALNF believes that literacy and numeracy skills are a critical element in enabling all people to fulfil their dreams. Without these skills individuals, families and whole communities are powerless in realising their full potential.

> View/download ALNF information brochure (pdf)

Our History

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation was founded in 1999 by Mary-Ruth Mendel and Kim Kelly and is the first independent literacy and numeracy tax-deductible national charity (DGR) in Australia.

Mary-Ruth Mendel is a speech pathologist with a private practice in Sydney (The Speech Language and Literacy Centre - SLLC) that specialises in helping people of all ages with literacy and learning difficulties. Mendel and Kelly first began working together to in-service school teachers with more effective literacy instruction strategies for the classroom. They were overwhelmed by the number of teachers who wanted to learn the latest research-based techniques that worked for literacy challenged children. However, Mary-Ruth and Kim soon realised that while the teachers and parents who could afford private instruction were involved, many others in need of instruction lacked the financial means to participate.

Shortly thereafter, a well-known news program went to air with a story about the success the SLLC was having with literacy challenged students. This resulted in nearly 3,000 phone calls asking for assistance. Kelly and Mendel were struck by the sheer volume of children that required assistance. They began their journey to establish a charity that would properly assist people in need and five years later the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation became the first literacy and numeracy charity to receive tax-deductible status.

Since its establishment ALNF has won the 2006 Best Community Project Award at the Ethical Investor's 6th Australian Sustainability Awards for the design and delivery of their First Language Reading Course to Indigenous community members; In 2007 ALNF was awarded the University of Western Sydney Partnership Award for its Refugee Action Support program and Mary-Ruth Mendel was one of four finalists in The Australian of the Year Awards - Local Hero Award NSW.

Our Mission

• To promote awareness of the chronic debilitation wrought by poor literacy to individuals, their families, communities and the nation.
• To principally engage in the direct provision of speech, numeracy and literacy services to individuals in poverty, sickness, self-distress, misfortune, disability, destitution and helplessness.