Click here to help the child in your
life fall in love
with reading.
Premier's Reading Challenge

Partnered Since February 2003

"We encourage you to help us instill a reading culture in Australia.
Open Books: Open Minds."

In August 2001, NSW Premier Bob Carr launched the Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC), a program aimed at encouraging younger people’s interest in reading. The program, open to all NSW school students, is now in its fourth year and has grown into four separate challenges for students in Years K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8.

See what books are popular with the students
You can view the 20 most popular books read by students participating in the challenge in 2005.
The program
Students are challenged to read 20 books in one year, 15 which come from a list compiled by teachers, authors and publishers. The books are selected by a committee comprising of representatives from the Australian Society of Authors, Teacher Librarians, Board of Studies and the English Teachers Association.
The research
'Interest in reading' is a significant factor in children's literacy.  And, it is the transition from primary to high school that is associated with the largest decrease in reading rates.  For instance, the recent study Young Australians Reading conducted by the Australian Centre for Youth Literature 2001, found that reading for pleasure drops from 45% in  primary students to 24% in secondary school students. 
Partnership
In partnering with the Premier's Reading Challenge, the Foundation hopes to motivate kids to keep reading during this transition period.  We want to foster a love of reading for interest and for pleasure.  We want students to use books to think about who they are relative to their families, their communities and the wider society.
You can play an important part
Share a book with a child in your life. Listen to them read. Together we can improve literacy in Australia.  Remember, Open Books = Open Minds.

To learn more about the program or get your school or child enrolled in the Premier's Reading Challenge, visit www.schools.nsw.edu.au/premiersreadingchallenge.