Latest News
Here you can find the latest ALNF news and media releases. You will also find speeches, related media articles, program updates and upcoming event details. For regular updates please sign up for our quarterly e-newsletter. All media enquiries should be directed to Gabrielle Kemeny at: gabrielle.kemeny@alnf.org
Latest News - 2010
Jan 31: IKEA's BILLY on the Beach, Sunday 31 January 2010. The world's longest outdoor bookcase with proceeds donated to ALNF
To mark the 30th birthday of BILLY, the world's most versatile bookcase, IKEA is creating the world's longest, fully stocked outdoor bookcase on Bondi beach, on Sunday 31 January from 6am till 6pm. On the day people are invited to swap one of their own books for a book from BILLY's shelves OR make a gold coin donation, with all donations going to The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation.
> Further information (weblink)
> View/download Ikea media release
Jan 12: ALNF Founder and literacy and language expert Mary-Ruth Mendel is named as the Clarence Valley's Australia Day Ambassador for 2010
Chair of the 2010 Australia Day committee, Councillor Sue Hughes, said it was an honour to have somebody of Mary-Ruth's calibre visiting the Clarence Valley. "Mary-Ruth is not only an expert in her field of literacy and language, she is a true giver, a real local hero and an inspiration for everyone" she said.
Latest News - 2009
Dec 21: RAS 2009 end of year figures. 90% of identified participants improved to significant or outstanding levels
Another successful year can be recorded for the Refugee Action Support (RAS) program. ALNF would like to thank the energetic tutors and tireless school coordinators who make this program so successful. In 2009, a total of 239 student received support from 96 tutors. Of those receiving support, approximately 70% received support weekly. Initial reports indicate that 90% of identified participants improved to significant or outstanding levels in relation to reading, writing, and speaking and listening for classroom purposes.
More importantly, as one Coordinating Teacher reported, "Not only do the students benefit linguistically, they benefit on social and emotional levels, as they interact with an adult who shows that they care about their education." A detailed report of RAS 2009 will be available in 2010.
Dec 17: NRL announces ALNF as a One Community charity partner for 2010-2012
Rugby League's 'One Community' program will partner with seven community and charity organisations from 2010-2012 - the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Cancer Council, McGrath Foundation, Men of League Foundation, White Ribbon Foundation and Life Education. The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation is excited to be given the opportunity to partner with the 'Rugby League Reads' and 'Learning With League' education initiatives.
Launched in December 2006, Rugby League's One Community program works to improve the lives of children and families at all levels of the game and community. "One of the key factors in selecting the new One Community charity partners was their ability to respond to major health, education and social issues," said NRL Director, Community Relations, Ms Trish Crews.
> View/download NRL media release
Dec 2: Wagga Wagga students celebrate RAS success
A fabulous end-of-year morning tea was hosted at Wagga Wagga High School on the morning of Wednesday, 2 December 2009 to celebrate the successful first cohort of the RAS program to be implemented outside of the Sydney area. ALNF would like to thank all involved in the local community who made this first semester such a fantastic experience.
> Further information (weblink)
Dec 1: Charles Sturt University: ALNF program improving the literacy of teenage refugees in rural NSW
Since the middle of this year, 17 third year education students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have taken part in ALNF's Refugee Action Support program in which they have worked as literacy and learning tutors for 26 teenage refugees enrolled at Wagga Wagga High School.
Eric Brace, ALNF Project officer: "The cornerstones of the program are two-fold. First, learning language and literacy is a social activity, involving lots of give-and-take between people as they negotiate meaning and practice skills. Second, it's important to have enthusiastic individuals from the community who are willing to lend a hand to help schools meet the needs of all students."
> View/download media release (weblink)
Nov 30: Drama in the RAS program
November 2009 brought with it a troupe of skilled actors and writers for participants in the Refugee Action Support (RAS) program. From 19 - 30 November, nine actors and writers from Bankstown Youth Development Services (BYDS) conducted drama forums and writing workshops for students at seven of the nine RAS schools in Sydney. Keep an eye out for the next edition of BYDS's literary journal Westside Jr. You may be reading the published works of some RAS students!
For more information please visit: http://www.byds.org.au/prj_RAS_Workshops.html
Nov 23 to 29: ALNF'S Hands Across the Nation (HATN) Indigenous Literacy Appeal Makes History
ALNF would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who gave generously to the Hands Across the Nation (HATN) Indigenous Literacy Appeal.
The ALNF HATN Indigenous Literacy Appeal was a huge success in raising awareness of the urgent need to act on Indigenous literacy. The Appeal was also successful in making history - twice! The Sydney Morning Herald's First Words series on indigenous literacy (marked by the "I Care" symbol) included the first-ever publication of Indigenous First Language on the cover of the SMH.
> View/download the full series
Channel 7, Network 10, ABC TV, Aurora TV and NITV ran Australia's first major television commercial featuring an Indigenous First Language voiceover with English sub-titles - the HATN Appeal commercial. The ad has now been archived by the National Film & Sound Archive for future generations of Australians to see.
You can view the ad on this website. The Wall of Hands event in Martin Place, Sydney, was an enormous success with thousands of people attending throughout the day to show they care about Indigenous literacy. ALNF supporters including The Wiggles, Mario Fenech, Matt Shirvington, Birdie Carter, Sarah Wilson, Pip Edwards, Bronwyn Bancroft, Deborah Cheetham, Deborah Thomas and Kerry O'Brien kicked off the event by putting their hands up in support of bridging the indigenous literacy gap.
ALNF would like to thank all our Appeal Ambassadors and Supporters for their dedication and support leading up to and during the HATN Appeal. We look forward to everyone's continued support in 2010.
> View footage from the Inaugural Wall of Hands Event
> Further media coverage of ALNF's HATN Indigenous Literacy Appeal
Nov 17: The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation launches Indigenous First Language TV commercial
In what is believed to be a first for Australian commercial television, The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) has created a television commercial featuring an Indigenous First Language voiceover with English sub-titles.
The voice for the commercial belongs to Mrs Judy Nakkamarra Nixon, a Tennant Creek community Elder. Mrs Nixon speaks in the Central Desert Language of the Warumungu people - the first community that ALNF partnered with in their work to empower Indigenous youth through literacy.
The commercial was developed as a pro-bono collaboration between Sydney advertising agency, Eleven Communications, and 2 Feet Films, with the support of a team of industry professionals working in Sydney and Tennant Creek. You can view the ad on this website
Nov 13: The Best Way to Learn is to Teach - ALNF's Community Action Support Program (CAS) Playing a Significant Role in Tennant Creek Community
ALNF is facilitating a cross-generational literacy tutoring program through which young Indigenous high school students provide reading and writing support for children at their local primary school.
The CAS program is designed to provide the high school students with the necessary support and resources so that they can be effective in their literacy teaching in both English and First Language. The long-term aim is to continue to encourage the high school students to develop skills that will assist them in their transition to tertiary study, or the workplace by providing them with the necessary knowledge and opportunities to practice literacy, leadership and learning.
Senior Teacher at Tennant Creek High, Julie-Anne Spina, indicated that the program provides the high school students with an opportunity to take on new roles and responsibilities and to learn by doing. "The girls are more confident," said Ms Spina. "Each week they are growing, taking on more responsibilities and, more importantly, enjoying the challenge."
PAK Chief Executive Officer Karan Hayward emphasised how the Year 10 students fulfill a significant role in the community. "These girls should be proud of themselves," said Ms Hayward. "I don't think they realise how important it is for the elders in the community to see young people take an active role in preserving and teaching language and culture."
Nov 11: ALNF Engages UWS Pre-service Teachers to Improve Community Literacy
Over the last four weeks six trainee teachers from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) have had the unique experience of teaching in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, a community half a continent away from their usual haunts.
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) students are part of a trial placement, initiated by the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation (ALNF), UWS and Tennant Creek High School (TCHS).
The presence of the trainee teachers in the Tennant Creek community has left a very positive impact on the local high school, including both teachers and students.
"These trainee teachers bring with them enthusiasm, energy and instruction in the latest teaching methods," said TCHS Principal Erica Prosser. "By supervising these pre-service teachers, my [TCHS] teachers are exposed to new methods and are encouraged to reflect on their own practices."
Each partner - TCHS, UWS and ALNF - is confident with the results of the trail placement and is committed to working collectively again next year with a new cohort of student teachers. In 2010 the CAS program will also include a few fresh faces at the local primary school, an addition to the current high school program.
Oct 29: Book Toting Youth - Literacy Packs a Hit in Tennant Creek
ALNF Literacy Resource Packs have now been distributed to every Tennant Creek High School (TCHS) student and selected Tennant Creek Primary School (TCPS) students as part of ALNF's ongoing Community Literacy initiatives in Tennant Creek. "To practice any skill, you need to have the right tools," stated Eric Brace, Executive Education Advisor from the ALNF. "Literacy is no exception. The resources should prove valuable to students, teachers and families."
TCHS Assistant Principal Pauline Davenport indicates that "The resources are fantastic and of great quality. They are much needed in a community like Tennant Creek, where access to materials and reading material can be quite limited in the home environment."
The Literacy Pack initiative is only one of many ALNF programs currently running in the local community, including First Language Literacy and Community Literacy Support.
Sept 21: The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation set to launch major appeal campaign with Eleven Communications
The Hands Across the Nation Indigenous Literacy appeal will be launched in November this year and already has the backing of many high profile Australians including Catherine Freeman, Therese Rein, Professor Marie R Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales and Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.
The creative campaign is being developed on a pro bono basis by Eleven Communications. "This is a problem that every Australian should care about and every Australian should take responsibility for solving" said Jono McCauley, Director of Creative Strategy at Eleven Communications.
June 5: Elders from Tennant Creek visit Sydney to Launch the Community Action Support Program
Community Action Support (CAS) is an innovative mentorship program created by ALNF as a means to improve the literacy and educational opportunities of Indigenous young people in remote areas.
Community Action Support Tennant Creek is a collaborative project between ALNF (with funds received from the Coca Cola Australia Foundation), the University of Western Sydney School of Education and Papulu Apparr-Kari Indigenous Language Centre, Tennant Creek.
The aim of the CAS program is to assist senior high school students in their transition to tertiary study, or the workplace, and to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to act as mentors themselves for students in younger years.
May 14: ALNF and The Essendon Bombers Take a Lead on Literacy
Essendon Football Club officially launched its Literacy Program at the Essendon Primary School today. The groundbreaking program – believed to be first of its kind in Australia – was designed in partnership with The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.
Mary-Ruth Mendel, ALNF Founder and Chair, said the program had wonderful potential to work as a pilot for other elite sporting organisations, "The Essendon Literacy Program is a wonderful example of how football players can act as role models by promoting an understanding that good athletic skills should be combined with strong literacy skills to ensure success as an athlete."
> View/download Essendon FC media release
May 8: ALNF Publishes Report and DVD on the Early Childhood Language & Literacy Project
The Early Childhood Language and Literacy Program provides explicit literacy instruction to preschool teachers, early years teachers, special needs teachers, teachers' aides, parents and community members.
> View/download 2009 Report
> View DVD preview
March 5: Mary-Ruth Mendel Key Speaker at International Women's Day Event
ALNF Founder Mary-Ruth Mendel Key Speaker at Woollahra Council International Women's Day Women in Education Event.
> View/download media release
> View/download poster
March 3: Therese Rein Addresses Literacy Levels in Indigenous Australian Communities
Therese Rein was the guest speaker at an intimate lunch held by the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation on Tuesday 3 March. Ms Rein spoke about her commitment to supporting ALNF's critical work in improving literacy levels in Indigenous Australian communities.
January 26: Mary-Ruth Mendel Selected as Australia Day Ambassador
ALNF Founder Mary-Ruth Mendel selected as Australia Day Ambassador for the Walgett Shire of NSW
Latest News - 2008
November 5: ALNF Welcomes John Phillips AO
The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation welcomes John Phillips, AO to the ALNF Board of the Public Fund.
October 20: ALNF Launches Early Childhood Language and Literacy Program
An innovative new ALNF Early Childhood Language and Literacy Program was today launched in three Indigenous pre-schools in the Kempsey area of NSW. The program addresses the importance and effectiveness of early intervention to prepare and support children for successful literacy learning in the early schooling years (including pre-school).
The initial visit will be followed by three further mentoring visits in order to provide staff and community members with ongoing support and guidance.
October 15: Warramiri High School students participate in our bi-lingual Visual Literacy Project
In 2007, ALNF compiled the first bi-lingual Warramiri Dictionary for the Warramiri people. In 2008, Warramiri high school students participated in ALNF's bi-lingual Visual Literacy Dictionary Project. These students were given the task of visually depicting the words in their own dictionary through the use of digital cameras and specialised software provided by ALNF.
> ALNF's bi-lingual Visual Literacy Project (this word is 'Jump')
October 8: Owairtilla School: Year 10 students paving the way for tertiary education
ALNF conducted a writing workshop with Year 10 students at the Owairtilla School in Canteen Creek - a remote community in the Northern Territory where there exists little opportunity for employment. The goal of the workshop was to inspire students to continue their schooling to the end of Year 12, thereby laying the foundation for the possibility of tertiary education.
In 2008 two students at the Owairtilla School completed their HSC – a first for the school.
View related article > The Australian: November 15, 2008
September 20: ALNF Hosts Inaugural Celebrity Chef Dinner
The Inaugural ALNF Dine Out on Literacy dinner was held on Saturday 20 December at the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney. Guests enjoyed a tantalising menu prepared by celebrity chefs Paul Doyle of the Shangri-La, Jared Ingersoll of Danks Street Depot and Martin Boetz of Longrain Restaurants.
Deborah Cheetham performing at Dine Out on LiteracyHosted by Richard Morecroft, with performances by acclaimed Indigenous Australian opera singer Deborah Cheetham and Craig Calhoun, funk bassist extraordinaire and former bass player for the Supremes, the evening was certainly a memorable one.
August 7: Official Opening of ALNF's NT Hub
The Centre for Indigenous Literacy is a shared initiative between Papulu Apparr-Kari (Tennant Creek Language Centre) and ALNF that focuses specifically on literacy, and associated initiatives, within the Language Centre.
Overseen by the Indigenous women from Papulu Apparr-kari this centre will provide ALNF with its first hub in the NT to support the following initiatives: production of reading resources in First Language, production of Driving Our Future DVDs, delivery of Driving Our Future courses, First Language Workshops, Community Action Support (CAS), First Language Online ©, Share-A-Book, Healthy Bodies=Healthy Minds=Healthy Lives and the ALNF Micro-Economy Project.
August 6: Driving Our Future DVD Launched in NT
The Driving Our Future DVD program was launched on August 6th in Tennant Creek, NT, at Papulu Apparr-Kari (The Centre for Indigenous Literacy) in conjunction with Charles Darwin University.
Driving Our Future is a bilingual (English and First Language), visual and auditory depiction of the road rules as they are found in Learners Permit handbooks. The program is designed for, but not exclusive to, Indigenous youth whose poor literacy levels preclude them from reading and understanding the standard, printed handbook and are thus often unable to obtain their drivers licence.
The multi-sensory DVD provides students with simulation driving tests, varied driving conditions and learner knowledge tests that will help prepare them to become safe and responsible drivers.
August 5: ALNF Helps Produce First-ever Conversational Warumungu Book
This is the first time conversational Warumungu has ever been recorded. The book will be used as the reference text for conversational Warumungu workshops with the young people of the community. Significantly, this project was initially requested by the younger generation of Indigenous people in the Warumungu community to help them safeguard a language that might otherwise have been lost to them.
First-ever Conversational Warumungu Book
August 4: First Translation of a Recipe from English to Warumungu
A doctor with experience gained from Medicin Sans Frontier accompanied ALNF to Tennant Creek to assist in connecting young mothers with practical resources, in both English and First Language, that combine literacy learning with nutrition and health: Healthy Bodies = Healthy Minds = Healthy Lives.
These workshops, which involved cooking lessons, basic literacy instruction and the sharing of the meal, resulted in the creation of the first ever translation of a recipe from English into Warumungu.
First Translation of a Recipe from English to Warumungu
July 24: Inaugural Coding Aboriginal Languages for Indigenous Literacy Course
The inaugural CALIL course was held on 24 July 2008. This unique initiative assists Indigenous communities to ‘bridge the literacy gap' by mapping sounds of indigenous languages in the English alphabet and then developing basic educational modules for reading and writing those languages. In addition, this program will help to preserve and safeguard Indigenous Australian languages. ALNF flew teachers and teacher's aides from Darwin to Sydney to participate in the inaugural course and first language work has already begun in several NT communities as a result.
July 22: Henry the Octopus visits Gawa!
In a joint initiative between ALNF and The Wiggles, Henry the Octopus was filmed singing and playing with the Warramiri children of Gawa. Scenes from Henry's remarkable adventure have brought the stories and images of Gawa, one of Australia's most remote Indigenous communities, to the homes of millions of children worldwide.
Filming The Wiggles DVD 'You make feel like dancing' in Gawa
May 30: Art For Literacy Exhibition Raises funds for ALNF
UWS students hold The Art For Literacy Exhibition to raise funds for ALNF
> View/download poster
> View/download brochure
February 21: Dorothy the Dinosaur sings in Warramiri
Dorothy the Dinosaur sings in Warramiri! The Wiggles launch Dorothy the Dinosaur's Memory Book DVD - Track 15: Nagalmam Djangu Godku Yumarrku
January: United for ALNF's Refugee Action Support (RAS) program
ALNF's RAS program has now expanded to include schools in both Western and Southwestern Sydney. This growth has been made possible through funding from the Westpac Foundation and further funding from the United Postal Services.
The Refugee Action Support program has established a unique three-way partnership between ALNF, DET and UWS, through which students, enrolled in the M. Teach (Sec) course, act as literacy tutors for 'adolescent' refugees in one-on-one/small group tuition settings in high schools with a high refugee representation. The University students gain course credit while working with the refugee high school students.
Latest News - 2007
December 7: ALNF Receives UWS Partnership Award
The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation received the UWS Partnership Award from the University of Western Sydney in recognition of the outstanding partnership between the University and ALNF for the Refugee Action Support program.
November 6: ALNF and The Wiggles
ALNF develops a unique and genuine relationship with The Wiggles.
Kathy Gothadjaka 'Gotha' from Gawa in Sydney with The Wiggles
November 1: Mary-Ruth Mendel finalist for Australian of the Year Awards
The Local Hero Award is one of four categories of the Australian of the Year Awards program, presented by the National Australia Day Council (NADC) in association with state and territory Australia Day organisations.
The Australian of the Year Awards acknowledges individuals who inspire national pride and enrich the lives of their fellow Australians.
November: ALNF's Refugee Action Support Program Hailed a Success!
During 2007, the University of Western Sydney placed 37 Master of Teaching student teachers in four schools in Western Sydney as literacy tutors. Under the supervision of coordinating teachers, the tutors provided homework and study assistance to 91 refugee students who had recently completed 12 months of initial education in Intensive English Centres.
Joseph Biar, Inaugural Community Liason Officer - Refugee Action SupportThe results from the 2007 evaluation were impressive. The preliminary data gathered suggests that 87% of the students were ranked as having improved 'significantly or 'quite substantially' or to an 'outstanding' degree.
July 24: Bell Shakespeare Company supports ALNF Literacy Initiative
The Bell Shakespeare Company's Hearts In A Row program serves the dual purpose of providing much needed support for the Company's national education initiatives and enabling groups of less privileged members of the community to enjoy a Bell Shakespeare performance at the Sydney Opera House.
ALNF received tickets to a performance of Othello in order to provide young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to attend a live theatre performance. Not only was this the first live theatre experience for many participants, but also their first visit to the Opera House. For some it was even their first time in the city centre.
Tickets for The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation were generously donated by Ros Packer, AO.
"Taking the students to the city at night and watching them be absolutely wrapped up in the production. They struggled with the language but understood the fights, the sexual allusions, etc. Each student was given the chance to go home at interval and each one declined. [I] Thoroughly enjoyed doing this with students who would otherwise never have done it, due to lack of money and also something so out of their experience". Teacher - Pendle Hill High School
June 8: Art 4 Refugees – Art show to raise funds for joint project with ALNF
Students in the community engagement unit of study at The University of Western Sydney held an art show to raise funds for a joint project with ALNF,UWS and The Department of Education and Training. The funds raised went to assist ALNF's literacy tutoring program for refugees form African and Afghani backgrounds in Years 7-11.
May 16: Dorothy the Dinosaur speaks in Warramiri with an Indigenous Elder from Gawa.
The Wiggles released their Wiggle and Learn CD and DVD "Getting Strong" and Dorothy the Dinosaur speaks in Warramiri with Gotha, an Indigenous Elder from Gawa.
Gawa is found on Elcho Island. Elcho Island lies immediately north of Arnhem Land and close to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Elcho Island can only be reached by air or boat. The small township of Gawa is at the northern tip of the island.
The Elders from Gawa, consider that education is a key factor for the future success of their younger generation. The students are keen to learn and are taught in both their First Language and in English.
Due to the generosity of The Wiggles, the Warramiri language is now available on the DVD for all to share!
Jan 31: IKEA's BILLY on the Beach
ALNF One Community charity partner
Tennant Creek Elders in Sydney for CAS
Early Childhood Language & Literacy
Therese Rein speaks at ALNF lunch
ALNF & The Wiggles, a valued relationship