Part 5: Where to now?

Ready to write effectively? #

1. Think about your readers
   Is the reading and writing you are expecting reasonable?
   If you can’t find out about the literacy levels of your readers, you can assume that 43% of them will find everyday reading and writing challenging, and 53% will find numeracy difficult.
2. Review your communications
   Do you need to do an audit of what you expect people to read and write
3. Redesign your communications
   For written texts, use plain language and reader-friendly layout. Check that the location is easy to find.
   Can you reimagine your messaging style to give your information in a different way?
   Use the case studies in this guide for inspiration.
   Check the links we’ve provided for more details.
4. Have a go
   Get feedback from your readers, your staff, or your customers to check what works.
5. Contact us at the Reading Writing Hotline
   We’d love to hear about your progress and include your example in our next case studies!

Thank you #

Thank you to the following organisations for generously sharing their time and expertise:

• 26TEN Tasmania Strategy
• AI Group Centre for Education and Training
• Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL)
• Australian Public Service Commission (APSC)
• Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
• Behavioural Insights Unit – NSW Government
• Central Coast Community Legal Centre
• Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health
• Coast Community News
• Council for Intellectual Disability
• Fair Work Commission
• Foundation and Transition Programs Branch, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
• NPS MedicineWise
• Reading Writing Hotline participants Maree, Tom and Mike.
• SBS TV
• South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Deakin University and University of Melbourne
• State Library NSW
• Sydney Health Literacy Lab
• Tasmanian Council of Social Service Inc
• The Western Australian Training Accreditation Council (TAC)

And thank you to NPS MedicineWise consumer story participants, Makere, Nev and Shelle, and to Mike, Maree and Tom for sharing their learner stories.

References #

1. NSW Government Behavioural Insights Unit (2022), Behavioural Insights Unit, Behavioural Insights Unit | NSW Government, accessed 22 August, 2022.
2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013), Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, Australia, Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, Australia, 2011 – 2012 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au), accessed 22 August, 2022.
3. Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (2021), Discussion Paper – Delivery of the SEE Program 2023, Resources | Department of Education, Skills and Employment (dese.gov.au), accessed 22 August, 2022.
4. NPS Medicinewise (2022), National Medicines Symposium Toolkit, National Medicines Symposium Toolkit (msecnd.net), accessed 22 August, 2022.
5. Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) (2022), Who wants to know about adult literacy?: report into the findings of the ACAL survey 2021 2022, Who wants to know about adult literacy?: report into the findings of the ACAL survey 2021-2022 | VOCEDplus, the international tertiary education and research database, accessed 22 August, 2022.
6. The Australian Industry Group (2018), Survey report Workforce Development Needs, Skilling: A national imperative, 6 Survey_Report_WFDNeeds_Skilling_Sept2018.pdf (aigroup.com.au), accessed 22 August, 2022.
7. Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) (2022), President report July 2022 newsletter, ACAL July eNews – Reviews, research & resources (mailchi.mp), accessed 22 August, 2022. 8
8. 26TEN Tasmania: Tasmania’s strategy for adult literacy and numeracy 2016-2025 Home (26ten.tas.gov.au), accessed 22 August, 2022.
9. Ayre, J., Muscat, D., Bonner, C., Mouwad, D., Dalmazzo, J., Harrison., E., Aslani, P., Dunn, A., & McCaffery K. (2021), Sydney Health Literacy Lab (SHLL) Health Literacy Editor, SHeLL editor technical notes — Sydney Health Literacy Lab, accessed 22 August, 2022.
10. Reading Writing Hotline & NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) (2020), 2020 Helping Clients Fill in Forms Report. Social Equity Works, https://readingwritinghotline.edu.au/ wp content/uploads/2020/11/Helping-Clients-Fill-inForms- Research-2020.pdf, accessed 22 August, 2022.
11. Office of the E-Safety Commissioner (2018), Understanding the digital behaviour of older Australians. Summary of national survey and quantitative research, Understanding-digital-behaviours-older-Australians-summary-report-2018.pdf (esafety.gov.au), accessed 22 August, 2022.
12. APSC (Australian Public Service Commission) (n.d.) Australian Government Style Manual, stylemanual.gov.au, accessed 22 August, 2022.
13. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Deakin University and University of Melbourne (2018), Teach-back.org., Teach-back – The Online Learning Module (teachback.org), accessed 22 August, 2022.

Index of case studies and research #

Case studies

Research #

Want to know more? #