In December 2024 the OECD released its latest Survey of Adult Skills from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). The survey measures adults’ proficiency in literacy, numeracy and problem solving. You can watch the launch and initial analysis here. Australia did...
ACAL marked the beginning of Reconciliation Week with a webinar presentation by Thomas Mayo reflecting strongly on this theme. The National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme "Bridging Now to Next" called on Australians to “step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as...
Check out the incredible line up of speakers at the Australian Council of Adult Literacy (ACAL conference) in Melbourne on 4-5 September 2025. The early bird rate is available till 15 July 2025. ACAL’s bi-annual conference will explore the role of literacy in empowering adults, fostering...
The Hotline frequently receives calls from learners struggling to complete VET courses, and from RTOs seeking advice on supporting students with literacy/numeracy gaps. We hope that ASQA’s new standards starting July 1 will help RTOs in improving the experience of their learners. The revised Standards aim...
The Australian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group will be hosting its 11th annual conference on VET teaching and VET teacher-education in Canberra on 11/12 December. The conference will provide presenters and delegates with the opportunity to explore the strong contributions the VET sector...
We hope all our readers have a well-deserved break over the upcoming Easter period. Before you head off, check out this issue of Literacy Links. We look at the growing complexity of calls we receive at the Hotline and the increasing need for “just in time”...
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Calls to the Hotline point to a real need for ‘just in time’ literacy services in the community. Hear about the experiences of two callers with literacy challenges who were trying to get help for complex issues. The Reading Writing Hotline regularly receives calls...
2025 is an exciting milestone year for Adult Learning Australia (ALA). It marks the 65th Anniversary of their organisation and for their Australian Journal of Adult Learning (AJAL), as well as 30 years of Adult Learners Week. As part of their 65th anniversary, ALA is gathering...
A youth worker, Mary* from an Aboriginal Corporation in a remote community phoned the Hotline for literacy support for three of her “out of school” clients aged 16 and 17 years old. Mary added that there were other young people in their service who will...
The Reading Writing Hotline manager Vanessa Iles and the ACAL president Jo Medlin presented to over 250 Australian government digital professionals across Australia in March. The webinar focussed on key issues around readability, accessibility and forms, both paper and digitally based. Participants were actively engaged...