The Community Adult Literacy Foundation has supported the Read Write Now! organisation to improve adult literacy through the following initiatives:
First Click Funding
The Foundation was successful in gaining funds from the WA Department of Education and Training (now Department of Training and Workforce Development)to provide ‘First Click’ courses for volunteer literacy and numeracy tutors. This project enabled adult literacy students to make their first click on a computer and begin to develop computing skills for personal and/or employment goals.
It also gave volunteer tutors the opportunity to improve their own skills enabling them to assist students and to find resources on the Internet. Volunteer Coordinators haven’t been forgotten – they have had the opportunity to extend their skills and learn about chat rooms with other Coordinators from all over Western Australia.
Lotterywest
Lotterywest Grant Provides More Opportunities for Adult Literacy Students in Western Australia.
The Foundation successfully gained a grant from Lotterywest that provided all regional groups of the Read Write Now! organisation with the latest technology, bringing them into the information age.
Volunteer Coordinators and tutors have been working hard to develop their own computing skills to ensure that their students can become computer literate and are not disadvantaged in this aspect of their learning. Easy access to computers with up-to-date technology in all centres has been of enormous benefit to tutors and students.
Also, having the state linked by computer has made liaison between Coordinators easier and has greatly reduced their administration time.
Ellinson Family Bequest
In memory of Pam Ellinson who made an outstanding contribution to adult literacy through her work in the TAFE system, in training and development as a Read Write Now! staff member and later as a volunteer Coordinator, her family have made a bequest to the Foundation. This enabled the development of much needed new resources for adult literacy students.
Swan Explorers Project
Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy and/or Numeracy 2003.
The Foundation also enabled the Coordinators of the Swan region to undertake an adventurous new project to reach out to adults who struggle with literacy and have switched off from learning. Former Swan Coordinator, Kath Napier, was recognised for her services to adult literacy by the Federal Minister Hon. Brendan Nelson and through the Foundation was able to fund the innovative Swan Explorers project.
The project offered a variety of short courses that provided opportunities to weave aspects of literacy into the learning. The project demonstrated its success with enthusiastic participation leading to requests for more courses and/or literacy help. The Foundation and Swan Explorers were justifiably proud of this venture and excited by its success.
Accommodation for regional groups
The Foundation enabled the City West group of Read Write Now! to refurbish office accommodation in Subiaco. The new headquarters are comfortably appointed, centrally located and available for confidential student interviews. Having a secure ‘home-base’ is essential to providing a regional service and the Coordinators are delighted with their new home!
Volunteer Small Equipment Grant
In May 2005 the Foundation was successfully awarded a Volunteer Small Equipment grant from the Department of Family and Community Services. These funds directly assisted our volunteers in the Canning, City South and Rockingham and Kwinana regions through the purchase of office and computer equipment, and furniture to house resource materials.