Frequently Asked Questions

The Hotline gets calls from all kinds of people:

• Adults who want to improve their reading and writing. Some people want help with basic reading skills. Others can read and write well enough for everyday needs but may have problems with the reading and writing needed at work or for a course of study
• Friends or relatives of adults who want to improve their reading and writing
• Employers who want to help staff who are struggling with literacy or numeracy at work
• Community workers looking for help for their clients.

One of our friendly adult literacy teachers will answer the phone. You can chat to us about your situation. We will suggest some options for you: maybe a class at a college or community centre, or a volunteer or paid tutor. We will give you a phone number to call. If you can’t get to a class, there might be other options like a distance course, or other ways you might be able to get started.

No, we do not run courses ourselves. We have a list of courses around Australia at colleges, community centres, or libraries. We try to find something in your area that will suit your needs.

We focus on adult reading writing and spelling. The courses on our lists will only accept young people after they have left school. We do have some information about helplines that may be able to offer assistance to parents.

Dyslexia is difficulty learning to read. It is not related to intelligence, and it’s not caused by vision problems. There can be a lot of different reasons why adults have trouble with reading. Sometimes they missed out on some important part of their schooling, or were bullied at school. Some people have a specific learning difficulty. Just because someone has told you that you have dyslexia, it doesn’t mean that you can’t improve your reading and writing.

Whatever the cause, most people can improve with an individualized approach and a helpful, experienced teacher. Call us if you would like to have a chat about your situation. We can help you find a class nearby, or specialist help if needed. The Hotline doesn’t support any one approach with adults as each individual has unique needs and circumstances. After you have made contact with your college or tutor, talk with them about what you both think will be best for you.

Yes. We have information about government funding, workplace trainers in your region, and learning materials for industry.

Yes, we can give advice on a wide range of literacy or numeracy needs. If you are struggling with spelling, we can suggest options such as self-help books, distance courses, or possibly a local course.

Download the PDF documents below for more information about adult literacy in Australia and the Reading Writing Hotline.