Making a Difference: The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program

Children who have good early childhood experiences…in stimulating, nurturing environments have better outcomes throughout their life…better school grades, better self esteem, fewer social problems, and fewer health problems and are less likely to be teen parents, use drugs or be involved in crime. (Clyde Hertzman, 2003 )

 Supporting and involving parents in their children’s early literacy learning  Introducing children to developmentally appropriate books and literacy activities  Raising awareness of the value of reading to children  Linking families to library resources and services that provide positive early literacy experiences for their children Growing up with Better Beginnings

How the program works  Free reading packs for every child at birth and commencing formal schooling provided through libraries, community health and schools  Regular in-house library rhyme and story sessions for families with babies and toddlers

Children up to the age of five who have had limited exposure to printed language and who have not been read to...have increased risk for reading failure and general poor school performance. Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, report 2008  Literacy resources including Discovery Backpacks, Storytime Boxes, free online literacy databases, Read Aloud Book Sets supplied to libraries to loan to families, playgroups, child-care centres

140 Local governments Delivery Partners 232 Libraries 310 Community health centres 110 Remote Aboriginal communities 420 Schools 60,000 families involved annually 200,000 families reached to date 4 Education sector 5 Government sector 8 Non-Government sector State Government of WA Dept of Regional Development and Lands WA Local Governments Rio Tinto Funding Partners Supporting Partners from little things….

It’s wonderful to have support across the community emphasising the importance of reading and language development. It’s not just a health issue, it’s a community issue. Community Health Nurse, Evaluation of The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program, 2007

I think it’s been a wonderful initiative. I feel sure it’s certainly going to benefit both the child and the parents and hopefully develop those links with the town library, or any library really, that people will just value what libraries have to offer…wherever they are in the State, they’re going to be able to go and reap the rewards. Teacher, Growing Better Beginnings, Evaluation of The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program, 2010

Read to me, I love it! Working with families in remote communities  Reading packs for families in over 130 remote Aboriginal communities  Virtual Library on DVD and accompanying children’s picture books

The kids love it when we get [the packs]... they cheer and cheer. One mother reads with her 4 year old every afternoon after school now … She said without these books, they would not have any to read. I didn't realise the program was having this kind of an impact on families. Teacher, Remote Community School, 2009

Making a difference  99% of mothers and 72% of fathers reported reading regularly with their child (only 14% reported reading before the program)  88% of parents report that their confidence in sharing books with their child had increased after being involved in Better Beginnings.  65% of children joined the library with most parents saying that the program had influenced this decision.  The average number of books in the home suitable for reading to the child increased from 20 to 125.

Transforming practice through research Better Beginnings gave me great ideas and more effective ways to use the books. It’s also moved my son to tell his own exciting stories. [It’s] reignited the passion for make-believe in myself as the books we have been reading bring out so much imagination in my son. Parent, Evaluation of The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program, 2010  Informs program development  Identifies challenges and issues  Identifies gaps in program coverage  Provides opportunity for reflective practice and builds evidence base

Built on strong foundation of international research Evaluated for results Delivering positive long-term social, educational and economic outcomes Innovation in content, delivery and partnerships Cultural reach and inclusivity Replicable and sustainable model Demonstrating best practice

For more information visit us at You need to learn to read. It helps you with every other subject and if you don’t read, you struggle with everything else in life. Parent, Making a Difference: Evaluation of The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program, 2007 For more information: