Raising literacy and numeracy skills has incredibly positive outcomes for the entire Tasmanian community, and 26TEN Week provides an opportunity to celebrate individuals, volunteers and trainers who support adult learners.
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This is also a week for us all to encourage more Tasmanian adults to take that important and very brave first step and ask for help if they need it, as it is never too late to improve your reading, writing and maths skills.
Work and daily life now demand stronger literacy and numeracy skills - they are the skills of the lifelong learner, necessary to help us keep up, adapt and respond to change at work and in our daily lives.
Work and daily life now demand stronger literacy and numeracy skills - they are the skills of the lifelong learner, necessary to help us keep up, adapt and respond to change at work and in our daily lives.
Unfortunately, 48 per cent of Tasmanians do not have these skills, which is why are striving for 100 per cent literacy.
All Australian states and territories have a similar problem, but the difference is that we have the 26TEN Tasmania Strategy, an ambitious ten-year strategy to improve adult literacy and numeracy in Tasmania.
Five years ago, when I launched this comprehensive and collaborative plan for tackling this persistent social problem, we were unique in Australia.
Today, we remain the only state to have such an innovative strategy which is making a real difference in people's lives.
At its mid-point, progress has been reviewed and I am proud to report that the 26TEN network of businesses, communities and government organisations and individuals working together now has over 960 members.
Over 1300 people have volunteered and completed training to be adult literacy tutors and 90 per cent of adults who have been supported by Libraries Tasmania - a 26TEN member - say they have improved their quality of life.
The review, 26TEN in 2020, also made recommendations for the future.
We know, for instance, that results are best achieved in communities where people and organisations collaborate to provide practical solutions for people where they live and work.
We also know this takes time, so we need to look at new ways in which we can provide longer-term support.
Disappointingly, the stigma around low literacy is still high.
Let's not avoid the subject or joke about it.
All people need is a bit of encouragement - and that's something we can all give.
We need everyone to be able to participate at work, in the community and their families, if we are to be the resilient, prosperous state we aspire to be.
There is clear evidence that when people are supported to build their skills, they improve their own lives, and their achievements create a ripple effect - a positive impact - on their families, workplaces and communities.
When Tasmanians improve their literacy and numeracy skills, there are far-reaching benefits for all of us.
Leading the way is the 26TEN Coalition.
The coalition is a group of influential Tasmanians who volunteer their time to provide valuable input into the strategy and its implementation.
Coalition members also work to gain support for adult literacy and numeracy in their industry or community sector and, most importantly, they inspire those within their sector to take action.
These new appointments extend the reach of the coalition into sectors that are vital for our state's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and our ongoing wellbeing and prosperity.
This week I welcomed Marta Dusseldorp, representing the arts, culture and media sector; Gail Eaton-Briggs, adult learning and trades; Richard Warner, agriculture; and Allyson Warrington, aged and disability care to the coalition.
I wish the new members well in their roles and thank the current members for their efforts.
Thank you to the many businesses, communities, local governments and the 26TEN volunteers who have committed so much of their time and passion to help us improve literacy and numeracy in Tasmania.
It is working together that makes the difference. We are building on what we have learned and will continue this long-term effort in the years to come.
Lifting literacy and numeracy is important for our future prosperity and wellbeing.
If you or someone you know would like help with reading, writing or maths, call 1300 00 2610 or visit www.26ten.tas.gov.au
- Jeremy Rockliff, Education Minister