The Murdoch Childrens Research Institute partnered with The Smith Family to deliver Let’s Read in communities across Australia. This partnership has seen the Let’s Read community program rolled out in 104 communities across seven Australian states and territories, engaging over 200,000 children and their families. In 2013 alone, it is expected that 28,000 children in 66 communities will participate in the Let’s Read community program.
In the Let’s Read community program, community-based professionals (ie: community health nurses, early learning centre staff, general practitioners) participate in Let’s Read training that equips them to promote reading with children from birth with families and carers in their local services. The Let’s Read community program utilises existing community networks and can be integrated with services and early literacy initiatives. Integral to the success of the Let’s Read community program is the role of the trusted community-based professional in encouraging and supporting families to help their children to develop the building blocks of literacy before they enter school.