2020 Impact Report by Indigenous Literacy Foundation

IMPACT REPORT

2020

ILF Impact Report 2020

IMPACT REPORT

2020

ILF Impact Report 2020

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The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuous connection to Country, community and cultures. We pay our respects to First Nations peoples, their narrative, traditions and practices, and to Elders both past and present. We acknowledge the strength and resilience of the people that have come before us, and we stand with current and emerging Elders of this country. We honour the sharing of traditional stories passed down through generations. We wish to pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as they will become our future leaders, Elders and Custodians of Country. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which our head office is based in Sydney.

ILF Impact Report 2020

CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

Our Story

Message from our Executive Director

Message from our Chair and Milestones

Our Co-Patrons and Founder

Our Ambassadors

Our Team

Celebrating 10 years

Our Programs

Tribute

Advocacy and Engagement

Thank you

Partnerships

Financials

Artwork from Bidyadanga Community, Western Australia

ilf.org.au

Transitioning

Pirntany (Stingray)

Advocacy, Fundraising and Community Engagement 6

ILF Impact Report 2020

OUR STORY The Foundation was established in 2010, having been initially set up in 2003 as the Riverbend Readers’ Challenge, before evolving in 2007 in partnership with the Fred Hollows Foundation to the Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP). Our Founder Suzy Wilson, a bookshop owner and former teacher, established ILP and lobbied to gain the support of the Australian Book Industry.

OUR VISION Our vision is equity of opportunity for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in remote Australia. We aim to ensure that these children have access to books and literacy resources, and are supported to succeed in learning and education.

PURPOSE Our purpose is to empower and build the capacity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop and pursue their own literacy journeys through three core programs, Book Supply, Book Buzz and Community Literacy Projects. We aim to advocate and build awareness among the wider Australian population of the issues and needs of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

VALUES Our focus is on building and maintaining the relationships with the remote communities we work with. Our Foundation’s three core values are:

LISTENING RESPECT ENGAGEMENT These values underpin how we operate in every aspect of our work. 8

ILF Impact Report 2020

“We are seeing children bring parents, Elders and communities together to support their learning pathways, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is critical in enabling these children to be whatever they wish to be in this world.” JUNE OSCAR AO

ILF Impact Report 2020

Advocacy Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, languages, histories and cultures is at the forefront of how the ILF operates. Our vision encourages and facilitates opportunities for First Nations peoples and communities to lead their own literacy journeys through community empowerment. We advocate and help build national acknowledgement and respect of the unique place of First Nations peoples. During 2020, a dedicated committee developed the organisation’s second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our Innovate RAP outlines actions that work towards achieving the Foundation’s unique vision for reconciliation and is due to launch in mid 2021.

ILF Impact Report 2020

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Karen Williams OAM

ILF had a big bold vision for 2020. It was premised on the strength of what many Elders in our video Voices of the Future spoke about; how the ILF’s programs were helping children, families and communities access culturally relevant books, learning resources, and books in first languages. In 2020 we saw a period of immense growth, strategic partnerships, and engagement – right across all areas of our work; in communities, in boardrooms and schools. With the generosity of all of our supporters we raised a staggering $4.4 million and were able to gift nearly 100,000 books. We expanded our early literacy program in playgroups in WA and NT. We published our 100th book title, Karrikin (My Body), in Karajarri. Although COVID meant we couldn’t travel the 10,000 kilometres to be at the community launch, we were there in spirit, experiencing all the excitement and joy when the books—published in six languages—were physically put into children’s and Elders’ hands. With the employment of a local, Katherine based Regional Program Coordinator, Josie Lardy, many more books were translated into Indigenous languages including the Kriol version of Can You Dance? Working with Australian and international publishers, the ILF acquired language rights to a number of popular board books including Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This means that with donor support in 2021 and beyond, many more Indigenous children in remote Australia will see their first books in their own language. This access is a basic human right, supports the revitalisation of first languages, as well as our Foundation’s vision of equity of opportunity. Last year also marked the creation of ILF’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP will be proudly launched in 2021, and deepens our commitment as an organisation towards reconciliation. In addition, 2020 saw Professor Joseph Lo Bianco, AM, FAHA, and Professor of Emeritus Language & Literacy Education Melbourne University, undertake a Critical Review of the ILF, which will direct our strategic planning and future directions in 2021 and beyond. It is with an enormous sense of pride and gratitude that I acknowledge the talent and passion of our team along with the incredible commitment of our Board, founder, Ambassadors, volunteers and ever generous donors. The ILF is honoured to acknowledge the wisdom, strength and knowledge of remote communities that we work with. Our commitment is to continue to listen, evolve, and ensure that remote communities are empowered in their literacy journeys. This is at the core of what the ILF does and books are at the heart. What is in those books—the stories, the languages and the illustrations is where the power of our partnership can really be seen.

ILF Impact Report 2020

FROM OUR CHAIR DR MARNIE O’BRYAN The past year has been challenging, unpredictable and empowering in equal measure for the ILF team. COVID-19 played havoc with our programming schedule and forced staff to rethink how they do business with our remote community partners. At the same time, our donor base grew and diversified as more individuals, philanthropic foundations and members of corporate Australia chose to support justice for our First Peoples through the gift of literacy. Their generosity has enabled our team to meet the challenge of the moment. Despite the many frustrations they have encountered, our magnificent staff team has responded with energy, creativity and innovation. Our duty of care to the communities we serve is of primary and paramount importance, but it has created challenges. Our work relies on strong personal relationships and building rapport with children and their parents. Doing this at a distance is difficult and makes the achievements of the last year all the more remarkable. You will enjoy reading about them in the following pages. In 2021, we moved to a Co-Chair model, and it is my honour and great pleasure to share this role with Professor Tony Dreise. Tony’s extensive leadership experience, his wisdom and longstanding commitment to equity in education make an invaluable contribution to the strength and good governance of our organisation. Thank you for your role in the ILF story. We couldn’t do it without you. Stay well. And keep reading.

OUR BOARD

Michael Aird

Mark Rubbo

Leitha Assan

Louise Sherwin-Stark

Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs

Laura Harris

Alicia Stewart

Yalmay Yunupingu

Anna Low, Secretary

James Kellow

Paul MacDonald

Glen Miller

(until March 2020)

(until March 2020) ILF Impact Report 2020

2020 Milestones Launch of My Body in six languages in Bidyadanga community, Western Australia

Three new program team members Published our

100th book

Supported 325 communities with

97,100books 500,000+

views of our Indigenous Literacy Day YouTube events on Wednesday 2 September 2020. ILF Impact Report 2020

OUR CO-PATRONS We are honoured to have two incredible leaders as patrons to the Foundation.

JUNE OSCAR AO

HON. QUENTIN BRYCE AD CVO

“We know that literacy is the key to choice, to income security, to developing potential – and it is the key to an enriching and rewarding life. That is why the work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is so important.”

HON QUENTIN BRYCE, AD CVO, ILF CO-PATRON

the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, I am a strong advocate for social justice and valuing the importance of the universal and fundamental human rights of all people. First Nations peoples have a right to enjoy culture, Law and language as a fundamental right enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge is essential for our people and their communities. Our lives and survival depend upon strong links to culture through Law, language and valuing Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. Sadly, many Indigenous rituals, customs, practices and languages have been lost with the devastating impacts of invasion and colonisation. However, I have heard how communities are counteracting loss with a resurgence of ceremony and language, and through active practice are reacquiring intimate knowledge of relationships with kin and country. It is vital that our knowledge is taught in all curricula around the country. The way our children are educated about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures really matters. The way in which our strengths—which have always been there—are acknowledged and valued can be life changing. We need to embed our languages into the Australian education system to ensure that First Nations peoples’ languages are restored, preserved and practiced in our community. Language is a fundamental component of culture. It enables group expression and communication as well as providing a mechanism to promote beliefs and customs. It also helps form social and cultural identity and solidarity of the community. It is of critical importance that we celebrate language—especially the many languages of our people, and the culturally rich and joyful stories they are now writing, illustrating, and publishing with the guidance of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. June Oscar AO

ILF Impact Report 2020

OUR FOUNDER Suzy Wilson, founder and owner of Riverbend Books, is ever present in her support and advocacy of the Foundation.

“Every year the dedicated ILF team works closely with remote Indigenous communities to support reading and learning. Through ILF’s programs, books are gifted, some translated into first languages, and others are created by communities, reflecting the value and importance of culture and language.” SUZY WILSON, FOUNDER SUZY WILSON ILF Impact Report 2020

“When children come to our school here at Yirrkala, they come with their own knowledge, they come speaking their own language and they come with what values they have…To have that bridging from one language to another is very special.” MERRKIYAWUY GANAMBARR-STUBBS PRINCIPAL OF YIRRKALA COMMUNITY SCHOOL, ILF BOARD MEMBER 16

OUR AMBASSADORS Our dedicated Ambassadors, managed by Kristin Gill from Penguin Random House, supported the Foundation through a very dynamic COVID-19 impeded 2020. From online media interviews and forums, to sharing stories via digital platforms, to hosting Great Book Swap virtual classroom sessions and swaps, they performed in a myriad of ways to share our vision, fundraise and build awareness of our programs.

Lifetime Ambassadors

Justine Clarke

Andy Griffiths

Kate Grenville

Dr Anita Heiss

Alison Lester AM

David Malouf

Josh Pyke

Natalie Ahmat

Deborah Cheetham AO

Andrew Daddo

Debra Dank

Gregg Dreise

Richard Flanagan

Ann James

David Lawrence

Kim Scott

Dr Jared Thomas

Shelley Ware

Ursula Yovich

Ambassadors

Jessica Mauboy

ILF Impact Report 2020

OUR GROWING TEAM In 2020 ILF grew strategically, doubling its team. On the eve of COVID, we went into the Cloud overnight, adopted flexible working conditions, and our fundraising and events based activities were all delivered digitally. We are so proud of our team and their achievements. The team grew with the appointment of three new Program team members. In March, Laura Sterling joined the team as Program Coordinator and Linda Augusto joined the team as our Early Literacy Manager for the Book Buzz program. In October, Seeba Tapim joined the team as Office Administrator before being promoted to Program Administrator in the Program team.

In January 2020, David Stewart joined the team as Fundraising Manager and in April, Corina Zanatta and Lisa Flower joined as Business Manager and Marketing Manager respectively. In the same month, Laura Atherden took maternity leave and Brad Gambetta took on the role of Donor Engagement Officer.

ILF Impact Report 2020

THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF AUTHORS At the Australian Society of Authors, we understand the power of language and literacy. Reading is not only linked to educational outcomes for children but is a pleasure, a pathway to imagination and inspiration. We deeply admire ILF’s work in early literacy for Indigenous children, particularly in remote communities, and support their Community Literacy Projects where books are published in Indigenous languages by communities, sometimes with the assistance of an experienced author. To gift a book is to build capacity. We are so proud of our long association with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

THE AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION “The link between literacy and positive life outcomes is undeniable, and the ABA’s relationship with the ILF is richly rewarding, vital, and life-long. We are inextricably linked, in the best possible way.”

OLIVIA LANCHESTER, CEO

ROBBIE EGAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION

ILF Impact Report 2020

Celebrating 10 years The year 2020 marked the Foundation’s tenth anniversary and although festivities were curtailed due to COVID-19, there was much to celebrate. Since 2010, the Foundation has steadily grown and over the last five years, the acceleration has been monumental, as demonstrated by the sharp increase in outputs across all three programs and team growth.

BOOK SUPPLY YEAR

BO O K S

2010

C O MMUN I TI ES

100+

15,000

250+

162,586

2015 2020

537,100 Totals are cumulative

5000 ea

BOOK BUZZ

2010

books g ifte racy e t li d

2015

playgroups

2020

67 playgroups

playgroups

325

ILF Impact Report 2020

28 books translated into six languages and a total of 9744 books gifted plus new partnerships in Northern Territory and Western Australia

OUR TEAM 2010

staff

2015

5 staff

“The vast majority of Families as First Teachers (FaFT) programs in the NT have registered for the ILF Book Buzz program and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The literacy resources (including support materials) provided by the program are very generous; developmentally appropriate for the birth to five year age group FaFT caters for; quality and contemporary; and promotes the use of home language by facilitating the translation process for many of the books provided!” AMANDA DOCKSEY, ACTING DIRECTOR, FAMILIES AS FIRST TEACHERS PROGRAM, NORTHERN TERRITORY

2020

15 staff

NU MB E R O F B O O K S PU BL I S HE D

COMMUNITY LITERACY PROJECTS

103

2015 60 books published and launched

2020 Celebrated our 100th book published. Launched 10 books in Bidyadanga including My Body in 6 language editions - Karajarri, Nyangumarta, Yulparija, Mangala, Juwaliny & English

6 2011

AC H I E VE ME N TS

2015

2020 Totals are cumulative

ILF Impact Report 2020

Transitioning in new ways

With COVID-19 locking down communities, cities and states, 2020 was a year like no other. Our focus quickly shifted to looking at digital methods of running our programs, sharing our story, and embracing new ways of working. Along with ILF Lifetime Ambassador Alison Lester, our team worked to create video tutorials to support children and families to illustrate a series of board books as part of our Community Literacy Projects. Our Regional Coordinator Josie Lardy also worked with Jilkminggan, Ngukurr and Binjari communities to gather audio and video recordings of books being read in language, and QR codes were placed in as many books as possible to help community members hear the book being read in language. In February, we held a briefing day for our Ambassadors and co-Patrons at NCIE in Redfern and attended the Katherine Isolated Children’s Service Literacy Festival in June. In May, ILF Ambassadors Shelley Ware and Gregg Dreise participated in a virtual Indigenous Film Festival with Fanforce TV and in November, we remotely supported a book launch in Bidyadanga community, Western Australia. In June, we held our very first livestream event on Facebook with ILF staff, Board members and Shelley Ware. From this more streaming events were held, including our first boardroom lunch hosted by Dr Anita Heiss and ILF co-Patron Hon. Quentin Bryce. We interviewed supporters on Instagram, and of course, our annual Indigenous Literacy Day celebration went digital for the first time. In November, to celebrate NAIDOC Week, we were invited to be part of Facebook’s first Australian Social 4 Good campaign where Ambassadors Shelley Ware, Jessica Mauboy, photographer and videographer Wayne Quilliam, and longtime supporter Archie Roach represented ILF and its work.

“I can’t tell you how proud I felt to be representing such a brilliant and highly important organisation, I want to do more and more!” JEMMA ROTHERY, ILF VOLUNTEER

ILF Impact Report 2020

Our Programs

We recognise that books and stories are the foundation of literacy. Our programs are free, which removes financial barriers and provides children, adults and families with easy access to books and learning resources.

BOOK SUPPLY Our Book Supply program gifts new, culturally relevant books to organisations based in or servicing remote and/or isolated communities. Over 40 per cent of books feature Indigenous authors and illustrators, ensuring the stories reflect the lives of readers. In early 2020, we were inundated with orders. By mid year, thanks to our major sponsor Australia Post, 80 per cent of books were delivered by road, air and sea, to reach children and families in some of the most remote regions in Australia.

“Our school can not thank the ILF enough. The books give our reading program a richness and depth to move beyond the class novel. This has opened the world of reading for enjoyment for our young people.” KARINA BLACKMAN, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER, TOWNSVILLE FLEXIBLE LEARNING CENTRE, QUEENSLAND

Throughout the year, we receive numerous postcards from children sharing their favourite books.

ILF Impact Report 2020

BOOK BUZZ “You may not realise what a wonderful thing it is to receive such high quality literacy materials in such a remote location - truly miraculous! Once again, thank you for a truly brilliant service.” ROBYN FIELDS FAFT MILLINGIMBI, NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Book Buzz program aims to develop pre-literacy skills, recognises the importance of first language development and builds familiarity with books for children under five. The program provides books and other supporting materials that engage children and families in playgroups, such as Families as First Teachers and KindiLink programs. Families are supported to read and share books with their babies and toddlers, with the option of these being translated in the home language. We encourage and provide funds for popular children’s picture books, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to be translated into first languages including Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara, Garawa, Kriol and Mangarrayi. This allows books to be read in the languages children and families are most fluent and confident using. It is also well researched that if you learn to read in your home language, you will be more successful in learning to read in English. ILF has been in partnership with Families as First Teachers (FaFT) since 2018 when 20 playgroups first registered to participate. The program has since grown and at the end of 2020, Book Buzz provided free resources to 41 playgroups in the Northern Territory. In 2020 we were excited to enter into a partnership with KindiLink Western Australia where three KindiLink playgroups were registered with the Book Buzz program. This partnership saw eight new playgroups join Book Buzz and a further five playgroups will join in 2021.

ILF Impact Report 2020

COMMUNITY LITERACY PROJECTS Our Community Literacy Projects program provides a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create and write their own stories, in the languages they choose. These stories are often published in multiple editions to include books which are monolingual, bilingual or a mixture of English and an Indigenous language. The published books are presented back to the community with free copies made available to children, adults and families, and to nearby communities.

Our thanks go to photographer Wayne Quilliam for the beautiful images included in the My Body book. The books were launched amidst much enthusiasm as part of the school’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

In 2020 we published and celebrated our 100th book—in six languages. Cumulatively we have published 103 books that reflect 26 Indigenous languages, including Pitjantjatjarra, Kriol, Walmajarri, Ngaanyatjarra, Yolŋu Matha, Tiwi and Arabana.

Creating graphic novels

Three books in seven languages In November 2020, we launched three new books, My Body, Colouredywun, and Fish Usmob Gettem with La Grange Remote Community School in Bidyadanga. My Body is published in six languages, including Karajarri, Juwalinny, Mangala, Nyungamarta, Yulparitja and English, while both Colouredywun

First published in 2020 by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation PO Box 663 Broadway NSW 2007 ilf.org.au

Copyright © Families of La Grange KindiLink, Western Australia, 2020 Original text by Aunty Maureen Yanawana All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations) in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by an information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Cataloguing-in Publication details are available from the National Library of Australia www.trove.nla.gov.au

ISBN 978-0-6487413-2-9

ISBN 978-0-6487412-9-9

KindiLink 9 780648 741299 > Created by families of La Grange

Typesetting and design by Hazel Lam Prepress by Splitting Image Printed by 1010 International Limited, China

in 2020 by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation

W 2007

milies of La Grange KindiLink, lia, 2020 Aunty Maureen Yanawana

ed. No part of this book may be transmitted by any person or entity gle, Amazon or similar organisations) by any means, electronic or mechanical, ocopying, recording, scanning or by storage and retrieval system without n in writing from the publisher.

Publication details are available nal Library of Australia gov.au

ISBN 978-0-6487412-7-5

41275

SI.indd 1

9 780648 741275 >

Text by Aunty Maureen Yanawana

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations) in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by an information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

book may be reproduced or All rights reserved. No part of this (including Google, Amazon or transmitted by any person or entity or by any means, electronic or similar organisations) in any form recording, scanning or by any mechanical, including photocopying, in system without prior permission information storage and retrieval writing from the publisher.

Cataloguing-in Publication details are available from the National Library of Australia www.trove.nla.gov.au

lication details Cataloguing-in-Pub ISBN 978-0-6485864-7-0 Library of Australia

Original text by Aunty Maureen Yanawana

ISBN 978-0-6487412-8-2

Created by families of La Grange KindiLink Translation by Rosie Munro and Martina Badal,9Nyangumarta 780648 741282 >

9 780648 586463 > 23/3/20 9:57 am

23/3/20 10:03 am

Cataloguing-in Publication details are available from the National Library of Australia www.trove.nla.gov.au

Fish Usmob Gettem

Mangala edition

Yulparija edition

Written by Maur een Yanawana Illustrated by stude nts from La Grange Remo te Community Scho

ISBN 978-0-6487413-0-5

ISBN 9870648741305

Created by families of La Grange KindiLink Translation by Maureen Yanawana, Mangala

Created by families of La Grange KindiLink 9 780648 741305 > Translation by Linda Badal and Merridoo Walbidi, Yulparija

Typesetting and design by Hazel Lam Prepress by Splitting Image Printed by 1010 International Limited, China

23/3/20 9:44 am SI.indd 1 COV_Body_Mangala

Colouredywun Created by the families of La Grange KindiLink

ISBN 978-0-6485864-6-3

Lam Typesetting and design by Hazel Prepress by Splitting Image Limited, China Printed by 1010 Printing International

First published in 2020 by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation PO Box 663 Broadway NSW 2007 ilf.org.au

Nyangumarta edition

Listen to the story here

Created by families of La Grange KindiLink Translation by Celia Bennett, Karajarri

Created by families of La Grange KindiLink 780648 586470 > ISBN99780648586463 Translation by Mervyn Numbagardie

COV_Body_Yulparija SI.indd 1

are available from the National

www.trove.nla.gov.au

Typesetting and design by Hazel Lam Prepress by Splitting Image Printed by 1010 Printing International Limited, China

First published in 2020 by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation PO Box 663 Broadway NSW 2007 ilf.org.au

Typesetting and design by Hazel Lam Prepress by Splitting Image Printed by 1010 International Limited, China

Karajarri edition

KindiLink, 2020

Original text by Aunty Maureen Yanawana

This fun board book was created by the families of La Grange KindiLink with Aunty Maureen, Alison Lester and Jane Godwin, and illustrated by children at La Grange Remote Community School. Wayne Quillam’s Listen to the story here photographs provided the finishing touch.

ISBN 9780648741282

d design by Hazel Lam itting Image International Limited, China

Cataloguing-in Publication details are available from the National Library of Australia www.trove.nla.gov.au

Literacy Foundation

ilf.org.au

COV_Body_Karajarri_SI.indd 1

COV_Body_Juwaliny SI.indd 1

This fun board book was created by the families of La Grange KindiLink with Aunty Maureen, Alison Lester and Jane Godwin, and illustrated by children at La Grange Remote Community School. Wayne Quillam’s story here photographs provided the finishing touch.

First published in 2020 by the Indigenous PO Box 663 Broadway NSW 2007

Juwaliny edition

ISBN 9780648586470

ISBN 9780648741299

9 780648 741329 >

book This stunningly illustrated board was created at La Grange Remote of Community School by the familes Maureen, La Grange KindiLink, with Aunty Alison Lester and Jane Godwin.

The ILF has been working with four secondary school students over the past three years on a new graphic novel project. After two years of ILFfacilitated workshops, 2020 saw three graphic novels, written and illustrated by Declan Miller, Seraphina Newberry, Alyssa Mason and Lauren Boyle, in their final stages. The books will be launched and celebrated in 2021.

Colouredywun

was created by the e KindiLink with Aunty ter and Jane Godwin, hildren at La Grange chool. Wayne Quillam’s ed the finishing touch.

and Fish Usmob Gettem are published in Aboriginal English - all of which are spoken by members of the Bidyadanga community. This project was spearheaded by Aunty Maureen Yanawana, who has been creating language books for students at Bidyadanga for several years now. The books were created by the children and families from the school and playgroup in workshops with ILF Ambassador Alison Lester and Jane Godwin in 2019.

ILF Impact Report 2020 23/3/20 9:38 am

23/3/20 9:49 am

TR I BU TE

CINDY MANFONG, JOSIE LARDY AND TINA RAYE (RIGHT)

We would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to one of our longest serving members of staff who is leaving us mid-year. Tina Raye, our Program Director, has been with ILF since 2013 and has overseen a tremendous period of growth and change. Her passion, vision and tireless energy has seen the growth of strong community relationships and engagements with remote communities and significant change in the quality of ILF’s publishing program and in the role ILF plays in language revitalisation. Tina’s legacy can be seen in the strength of our programs outlined in this report and in growth of a talented program team who now include a number of employees in community. ILF Impact Report 2020

Advocacy and Engagement SUPPORTING SNAICC ILF plays a small but significant role in the community supporting other Indigenous organisations. For a number of years, ILF has supported SNAICC on their national advocacy day for children. In 2020 we provided 15,000 copies of No Way Yirrikipayi that were read and enjoyed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families right across Australia.

CELEBRATING NAIDOC WEEK 2020 Always Was, Always Will Be

“We want all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded.” NAIDOC 2020. The theme, Always Was, Always Will Be, inspired a video montage, collated from submissions from First Nations peoples across the country. With over 80 submissions representing Countries as far as Jingili Land in the Northern Territory to Arabana Land in South Australia and Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Strait, Queensland, the video showcased the depth and breadth of our country’s Indigenous Lands and peoples. We also shared a series of interviews with Yolngu woman Liandra Gaykamangu, Garigal/Gadigal man Adam Byrne, and Murrawari/Budjiti man Uncle Bruce Shillingsworth, hosted by ILF Program Coordinator Laura Sterling, and shared on our YouTube and social media channels.

“The Indigenous Literacy Foundation has been a longtime supporter of SNAICC – National Voice for our Children. Their valuable contribution to National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day in providing books of inspiring stories created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and storytellers means our children across the country are kept connected to culture, Country and community – celebrating their identity.”

CATHY LIDDLE, CEO

LITERACY FOR LIFE FOUNDATION For the past four years ILF has been supporting an adult-based literacy program working mainly in regional communities in NSW by providing resources to adults.

Literacy for Life Foundation and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation are a great combination. Our communityled classes help people learn to read and write and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation provides books for our graduates. What a great way to celebrate literacy.

JACK BEETSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LITERACY FOR LIFE FOUNDATION

INDIGENOUS LITERACY DAY Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) is the Foundation’s national advocacy and awareness-raising event, and increasing numbers of Australians celebrate it each year. The day showcases and celebrates Indigenous stories and languages. In 2020 we launched two digital YouTube events—a Main Event and an Education event. The ILD Main Event included insights from ILF Ambassadors and supporters such as Anita Heiss, Andy Griffiths and Archie Roach, and a stunning performance of My Island Home by Jessica Mauboy. Viva Energy was a generous sponsor of this event. The Education Event for primary and early learners featured Jessica Mauboy, Justine Clarke, Cheryl Lardy and Andy Griffiths, with a book reading in Kriol and English, a melody sung in Tiwi, Mangarrayi and English, and songs and activities with author, performer and musician Gregg Dreise. The Foundation partnered with the Sydney Opera House to host the education event on their YouTube channel and 2,151 schools pre-registered, representing 92,726 students. An estimated Australia-wide audience of 500,000+ tuned into the events on the day—a record breaking result for our Foundation. We also used this unique opportunity to design and produce a digital ILD event for the remote communities—children, families and organisations—with whom we work.

“I see reading as an important lesson to teach our kids. For me personally, as a young one, I didn’t even know that letters had sounds. When I became a parent and dropped my son off to kindy, the teacher was calling out the sounds of the letters, and it was then I knew, I had to learn [teach] my son to read... that first term I went out and bought $200 worth of books and I read to him every night... I struggled as a kid and I didn’t want him to struggle...he was going to be able to read and I wanted him to love books.” NORAINI MCCULLOUGH

“This is the Sydney Opera House’s ninth year collaborating with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and we’re proud to have been able to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day in what has been a challenging year. It has been a pleasure to share First Nations culture with school students in an even bigger way than ever before and to reach remote students who wouldn’t have been able to participate otherwise.”

MELINDA DRANSFIELD, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE DIGITAL PRODUCER, CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND CREATIVE LEARNING ILF Impact Report 2020

ILF Impact Report 2020

Artwork from Bidyadanga Community, Western Australia

ilf.org.au

Advocacy, Fundraising and Community Engagement Artwork from Milikapiti Community,

Northern Territory

ilf.org.au

Artwork from Bid

yadanga Commu

nity, Western Aus

tralia

ilf.org.au Wurlu (Blue Bone)

Jarranga (Buffalo)

GIVE THE GIFT OFREADING The 2020 Give the Gift of Reading cards feature stunning artwork from budding young illustrators from Milikapiti in Northern Territory and Bidyadanga in Western Australia. Thank you to the hundreds of supporters who continue to donate to this fundraiser and help put books into the hands of children in remote Australia.

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Pirntany (Stingray

ILF Impact Report 2020

GREAT BOOK SWAP 2020

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Our major fundraising and advocacy campaign, the Great Book Swap, was put on hold in 2020 as COVID-19 disrupted schools, events and gatherings. At a time of great uncertainty and upheaval, we created the #GreatStorySwap to engage with our supporters online and continue the sharing of books and stories. As restrictions relaxed, some of our passionate, dedicated supporters managed to find new, innovative ways to hold their Great Book Swaps. In 2020, we had 270 registrations, over 30,000 participants, and $77,000+ raised for our Foundation.

Help raise $350,000 to gift 35,000 books

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Reading Opens Doors Where: When:

greatbookswap.org.au

SIX YEAR OLD FRANCESCA QUINN CHOSE ILF AS HER CHARITY OF CHOICE

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS We saw a significant increase in community fundraisers in 2020, with creative and impactful events staged across the country and overseas. Over 400 community fundraising events took place, many in support of Black Lives Matter, NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week and Indigenous Literacy Day. We acknowledge the impact of Black Lives Matter and the support it generated. We received a surge of first-time donations, and many supporters increased their commitment by becoming recurring donors. This support is paramount to the growth of our program delivery. We thank you all for your time, energy and commitment, but most of all for sharing our vision of equity of opportunity for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote regions of Australia. ILF Impact Report 2020

Partners, Donors, Volunteers and Supporters We are very grateful for the trust that has been established over the years with the remote communities we support and their willingness to engage wholeheartedly with our team. We are honoured to be able to assist and support their literacy journeys. To our corporate partners and sponsors, individual donors, Trusts and Foundations, and volunteers that continue to stand by our side, we could not do this without you. If we could bottle the joy of a parent reading a book for the first time in their home language, or the squeals of a delighted toddler when they point to a caterpillar munched leaf in a shiny new board book, or the emotional moments when Elders in a remote community see their language in print, you would know the full extent of your generosity. Literacy is long term. Its impact is omnipresent. Thank you. 34

ILF Impact Report 2020

THANK YOU AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge these valued supporters: GOLD SUPPORTERS ACME Foundation Australia Post Constant Reader Bookshop Envato Foundation Gandel Philanthropy Johnston Foundation Metamorphic Foundation Mitsubishi Corporation Pan Macmillan Penguin Random House Quinn Femelle Private Ancillary Fund Rado Foundation The Tar-Ra Fund

MAJOR SUPPORTERS ABC Allen & Unwin Dr Anita Heiss Annie Danks Foundation ARA Group Endowment Baker Foundation Beecher Family Charitable Fund Blueshore Charitable Trust Brent & Vicky Emmett Giving Fund Cut Through Coaching & Consulting Donnelly Garner Foundation Emu Trekkers Elizabeth & Barry Davies Charitable Foundation FDC Construction & Fitout Flew Foundation Henson Foundation Jetstar Airways Jim Hart John T Reid Charitable Trusts Libraries Board of South Australia SMEC Magic Libraries Foundation Ian and Alison McKenzie Family Foundation Morialta Trust Morpheus Foundation Omni Executive Pty Ltd Penny Appeal Readings Bookstores

Reina Barlow Riverbend Books Stening Charitable Trust Susan McKinnon Foundation The Flying Beetroot TJX Australia The Phillips Foundation UnLtd 1010 Publishing BOOKSTORES Avid Reader Berkelouw Bookstores Gleebooks Harry Hartog Bookstores Kinokuniya Sydney Matilda Bookshop Oscar and Friends Potts Point Bookshop AUSTRALIAN BOOK INDUSTRY Australian Booksellers Association Australian Publishers Association Australian Society of Authors Australian Library and Information Association Children’s Book Council of Australia Hachette Australia HarperCollins Publishers Pty Ltd

ILF Impact Report 2020

AUSTRALIA POST Australia Post is at the heart of Australian communities, connecting them to each other and the world. Our three-year partnership with the ILF was established in February 2020 and allows us to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote locations with important literacy resources.

Key highlights for 2020 Supporting the Book Supply program We’re proud to use our network to deliver culturally appropriate books to remote communities on behalf of the ILF Book Supply Program. Our role as an ‘essential service’ provider ensured that deliveries continued throughout 2020 despite the strict COVID-19 lockdowns. At year’s end we delivered 97,100 books to 325 remote communities free of charge. Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) 2020 Through ILD we demonstrated our support for the ILF and our commitment to literacy. This included a special video for the ILD virtual event, highlighting our role in the Book Supply program, a promotional campaign in Post Offices and across social media, including the collection of $7,100.90 in over-thecounter donations across participating Post Offices on behalf of the ILF. Education resources We created two online education resources for primary

school classrooms: the ILD Classroom Activity Guide and a special masterclass featuring ILF Ambassador and author Gregg Dreise. Unaddressed Mail Service (UMS) We distributed 202,000 ‘Give the Gift of Reading’ UMS flyers in key regions of NSW and VIC to help create awareness and increase community support for the work of the ILF. Recipients raised $4,000 in donations and in return they received a greeting card featuring original artwork. Australia Post Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2020-2022 Our RAP targets for the next two years include increasing the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our workforce, more social procurement across the business, and supporting improvements in childhood literacy, through our partnership with the ILF.

ILF Impact Report 2020

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE Penguin Random House is thrilled to have been a partner of the ILF in their decade of work as a Foundation. Over the years, we have seen such incredible and continued support from our staff— from volunteering at the distribution centre and fundraising through our annual trivia event in Melbourne, as well welcoming the girls from the Tiwi Islands into our Sydney office, and having members from our Leadership Team join the ILF board. Fundraising and supporting the ILF has truly been a companywide effort. Penguin Random House CEO, Julie Burland said “working with the ILF for more than a decade has been amazing, as is watching their organisation grow from strength to strength. Seeing our donations directly affect the programs the ILF has been able to run and having our staff embrace and support their cause is incredibly uplifting.” JULIE BURSLEND, CEO, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

ILF Impact Report 2020

Financials

THE INDIGENOUS LITERACY FOUNDATION LTD ABN: 45 146 631 843 ILF is an independent charity with DGR Status that raises all its income independently and without government support. In the past 10 years it has raised over $15 million dollars to support its program. In 2020, ILF worked within best practice guidelines for charities, ensuring that the majority of funding it received and raised was spent on the delivery of programs.

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the year Ended 31 December 2020

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

$ 0 BOOK SALES

BLUE 2020 38

FUNDRAISERS

GRANT REVENUE

GOLD 2019

ILF Impact Report 2020

INTEREST RECEIVED

OTHER INCOME

DONATIONS

2020

2019

COST STRUCTURE

ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATING COSTS

PROGRAM COSTS 2020

BOOK BUZZ FUNDRAISING COSTS

28%

COMMUNITY LITERACY PROJECTS

25%

BOOK SUPPLY

47%

PROGRAM COSTS

ILF Impact Report 2020

Thank you to the following photographers for the images: Tiffany Parker Wayne Quilliam Corina Zanatta

ILF Impact Report 2020

PO Box 663 Broadway NSW Australia 2007 (02) 9280 0644 info@ilf.org.au indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au ABN 45 146 631 843 Donations welcome 42

ILF Impact Report 2020