Free Little Fulla Yarns Aboriginal Reading Packs will be given to families in the Kimberley through a partnership between Rio Tinto and the State Library of Western Australia.
The packs include books by Aboriginal authors, clapsticks, stickers, finger puppets and information sheets to support parents to share books with their children.
The initiative builds on the highly successful Better Beginnings program delivered by the State Library to all families with newborn babies and children in kindergartens in WA.
It will also complement the McGowan Government’s $1 million election commitment to improve Aboriginal literacy by expanding the reach of Better Beginnings in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
The packs have been developed by early literacy specialists at the State Library of WA in consultation with Aboriginal families and will be distributed through public libraries, the WA Country Health Service and the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
In addition to the new reading pack, the State Library is working with the Yawuru Language Centre to translate the Better Beginnings flagship picture book Baby Ways into Yawuru so that a bilingual version can be provided to families.
The pack has been developed with the support of funding partner Rio Tinto which has supported the State Library’s Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program since 2005.
To learn more about Better Beginnings go to https://www.better-beginnings.com.au
To watch Little Fulla Yarns videos full of activities and fun go to https://www.youtube.com/user/betterbeginnings
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“Taking time to read, yarn, sing, draw and play with your little fullas will support Aboriginal families to build their children’s literacy skills.
“The Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program continues to have a positive impact on Western Australian families and we are excited to see that support enhanced in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions.
“Public libraries are great places for families with many resources that are free to use and activities that support lifelong learning and recreation.”
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Research shows that Aboriginal families do not have the same level of access to books as non-Aboriginal families.
“This initiative will give Aboriginal families books to read at home – opening up a whole new world of opportunities and access.”
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“I am so pleased to hear that the wonderful picture book Baby Ways will be translated into Yawuru – this will really help local communities access literacy in a way that is familiar to them.
“The Better Beginnings program has already helped more than 1 million families in Western Australia so it is fantastic that it is now expanding to include books by Aboriginal authors.”
