Tag: #literacyadvocate

A New Chapter with the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), VIC Branch

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Thanks Jo Pentony, President of the VIC Branch, for welcoming me so warmly, as a new Committee member for 2025/26. I’m excited to be advocating for Australian children’s literature with The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA)! 

I come from a background as an Occupational Therapist, author, reader, parent (of one bookworm + one reluctant reader!) and passionate literacy advocate in disadvantaged communities. 

My special interests in children’s literature are:

  • equal access to picture books and shared reading for all Early Years children (irrespective of their postcode)
  • disability representation
  • engaging and supporting reluctant readers
  • celebrating the joy of childhood in children’s literature.

I’ve been a member of the CBCA for ten years, and I’m honoured and excited in equal measure to be stepping forward in this new voluntary role with my fellow Committee members.

Showcasing Young Writers

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During my school visits and author talks, I’m regularly asked varying combinations of the following questions by encouraging teachers and parents: “We have a student/child who’s a talented and enthusiastic writer. How can we foster their love of creative writing and help them showcase their work? Where/how can they share their writing? What resources, competitions and/or writing courses are available which specifically cater for children?”

I hope the following resource sheet goes some way to answering these questions. The collation of it has been on my to-do list for some time, and contains information on children’s writing competitions and courses that I personally know of, as well as recommendations from generous author friends in the Kidlit Facebook Group ‘The Duckpond’. Please note, it has primarily been written for Victorian Primary School children, and is by no means exhaustive….but a good launching pad, in any case, for the many talented Primary School writers out there. Enjoy!

Parent & Teacher Resource for Primary School Student Writers VIC - Updated 27 Nov 2019

Readings Foundation Grant

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I’m super-excited to have been asked to be a Writer In Residence again this year with the leading children’s literacy and education support charity, Ardoch.  And to top it off, we’ve been the very grateful recipients of a $10,000 grant from Mark Rubbo and his Readings Foundation to expand the program this year to four authors. I can’t wait to hear what school I’m going to this year and what amazing story we will write together!

Ardoch and Readings Grant