A community focus

The Let’s Read initiative has been designed to be delivered in, and owned and supported by the community.

While Let’s Read is considered suitable for most communities, it is perhaps best suited to those who exhibit strong and sustainable networks and partnerships. This is because Let’s Read has been designed to be delivered within existing networks, ensuring its long-term sustainability.

How a community implements Let’s Read will be determined at a local level. There are some specifications, such as the stages when the program should be delivered and the types of messages that should be promoted but the exact professionals involved and the potential involvement and support from local organisations will be at the community's discretion. There are costs associated with delivering this initiative and a community should be mindful of this when contemplating implementing Let’s Read. Refer to the Let’s Read Components which outlines the resources that are used in the initiative. A community may decide to phase in the program, rather than trying to target all children at the same time. It would be advisable for a community to make a commitment to Let’s Read for at least three years, which would enable the first group of babies to have all the stages of the initiative delivered to them.

It is recommended that a local Let’s Read Community Steering Group be formed to initiate and oversee the implementation, whilst engaging the community in the issue of the importance of early literacy for the children in the community. When a community decides to implement Let’s Read, they will be provided with support from the Let’s Read Community Facilitator and a Community Guide is made available.