Lutheran Care has gotten behind Indigenous Literacy Day which aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities to embed a love of reading from an early age.
Falling today (4 September) and run by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), the event has this year adopted the theme, ‘Be A Proud Voice for Community’.
Nationally, the day has included the launch of a film welcoming viewers into three Aboriginal Communities to learn about their unique stories, languages and cultures; a live-stream from the Sydney Opera House featuring songs and stories from ILF Ambassadors Jessica Mauboy, Bianca Hunt, Justine Clarke and Josh Pyke; and the launch of three new books. You can watch a recording of the livestream and find out more here.
Locally, Lutheran Care’s Foster Care team has gotten involved by sourcing a range of new and donated books to share with Foster Care households caring for Aboriginal children and young people.
Led by Aboriginal Engagement Worker, Emily McConnell, the project saw around 200 books sourced, spanning from colourful board books for babies and toddlers, through to children’s storytime favourites and young people’s fiction. The books included a large number of works by Aboriginal authors and illustrators including Welcome to Country by Auntie Joy Murphy, as well as stories by other Australian authors, and some international authors’ works.
The Foster Care team handpicked and purchased some of the books from a local bookstore. Copies of the book ‘My Feet’, written by author Aimee Chan and illustrated by the talented Aboriginal artist Leilamarie Stuart-Likouresis, as well as cute socks for little feet, were donated by South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). SAHMRI’s Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Research Unit provided the research behind the book, which educates young people about the importance of looking after their foot health and guard against preventable amputation due to diabetes.
Some good-quality second-hand books were also kindly donated by Playford Library, Lutheran Care Op Shops, and some Lutheran Care staff members.
Emily wanted to get involved in Indigenous Literacy Day “to help raise awareness about what the day represents”.
She hoped the gift of books would help the Aboriginal children and young people in care, and their foster families, feel acknowledged, and nurture in them a love of books and reading.
Each family will receive a bag with age-appropriate books, with delivery happening in coming weeks.
Lutheran Care is always seeking caring and safe families and individuals to join the Lutheran Care Foster Care Village and become Foster Carers. You can find out more about becoming a Lutheran Care Foster Carer, here.
You can find out about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation here.