Giving Kids Choice, Literally
The Charitable Foundation for Books in Homes Australia ABN 54 303 757 654
Level 13, 52 Alfred Street, Milsons Point NSW 2061
Locked Bag 888 Milsons Point NSW 1565
Telephone: 02 9434 2488
Facsimile: 02 9434 2490
Website: www.booksinhomesaustralia.com.au
What is Books in Homes Australia?
Books in Homes Australia provides books-of-choice to families and children living in remote and low socioeconomic circumstances, ensuring crucial early literacy engagement and the development of reading skills
needed for lifelong success. Books are chosen from Preview Packs of which 25% of titles are written by
Indigenous Authors. These Packs are ultimately donated to the host organisation for the entire community to
access.
The Books in Homes Programme was originally inspired by Maori author Alan Duff who wrote the widely
acclaimed book “Once Were Warriors”. It was founded 21 years ago in New Zealand and now every low decile
school in New Zealand has access to this resource.
Books in Homes Australia was established in 2001 and has a similar blueprint to its New Zealand founder.
Since 2001, Books in Homes Australia has successfully delivered more than 1,200,000 quality books of choice
to over 300 low socio-economic communities in NSW, NT, QLD, SA, VIC, WA and TAS.
Giving Kids Choice, Literally
Key Components of the Books in Homes Programmes
To create a legacy of books of choice in disadvantaged homes from birth.
To involve whole communities in creating a “value” for reading.
To motivate families and students to view reading as an “everyday” activity.
To ensure remote and Indigenous communities have the same access to books
of choice as their more advantaged urban peers.
Focus Areas
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Reading The provision of 9 books per year for each participating child and family; chosen from a
Preview Pack of 48 titles in 4 different reading levels links early learning programs back into each
child’s home life; ensuring learning is seen as an extended opportunity for both children and their
parents/carers well beyond the physical confines of the school.
Disadvantaged children and families The Programme gives students and families with refugee
status who invariably are not literate in Australian Standard English, the choice of age appropriate
new books which they would otherwise not be able to afford or cannot readily access. Exposing
children to books in the home environment encourages and promotes a love of reading and increases
reading skills in the extended family.
Remote and Indigenous communities The Programme aims to break the education inequality
found in remote and Indigenous communities where resources are scarce and generational poverty
prevalent. The Books in Homes Programme ensures these communities are kept in touch with current
titles.
Preservation of Indigenous Culture 25% of all titles are written by Indigenous authors ensuring
literature is culturally appropriate by supporting Indigenous Publishing Houses across the country.
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Corporate Sponsorship
Books in Homes Australia welcomes the support of corporate Australia to partner in it’s mission to reach all
disadvantaged children and families with its literacy resource. The Foundation is able to provide a list of
designated low socio-economic status schools in all states or regions of interest. Sponsorship of a school will
provide your company with a number of volunteering opportunities as listed below.
Books in Homes will acknowledge corporate sponsors by:
Inclusion of company logo on the Books in Homes
Book Catalogue. The catalogue is sent to more than 25,000
children across Australia each term which equates to an annual
distribution of over 75,000 copies. It is viewed by students,
teachers, school administrators, and family members across the
country.
Inclusion of company logo on the Books in Homes
website. The Books in Homes website has a sponsor page where
it honours all companies that have contributed to the
Programme’s success.
Books in Homes offers the following branding opportunities to corporates:
Corporate logo inserted onto book labels.
Books in
Homes provides labels to be placed on the inside cover of every
book, promoting ownership and pride. Students, families and
communities will know who their generous benefactors are.
Corporate logo inserted onto book bags.
Each term
participants receive their books of choice in water-proof book
bags. Corporates may use this opportunity to insert their logo onto
the book bag.
Corporate Volunteering
Books in Homes Australia will tailor Corporate Volunteering Opportunities to suit the needs of your company.
These opportunities may include:
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Bringing books to life at a Book Choosing Assembly;
Volunteering to help local coordinators unpack books and organise them for Book Giving Assemblies;
Becoming Role Models at schools and encouraging students to read for fun, and
Becoming Reading Mentors at schools.
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Research Studies & Success Stories
Books in Homes Australia has had considerable success growing communities of readers around Australia.
In September 2006, the Federal Government through the Department of Education, Science and Training
commissioned Atelier Learning Solutions to conduct an independent evaluation of the Books in Homes Primary
Programme that had been running in 50 communities in the Murdi Paaki Region of far western NSW. The
Executive Summary stated:
“Overall, it is obvious from the evidence that the Books in Homes Primary Programme… is operating
effectively and efficiently. In the three years of operation, it has gained strong support among parents,
staff and students. It has started the process of valuing and improving literacy through a Programme
that is administratively easy and has the potential to produce extensive and sound outcomes to
underpin later achievement of the National Goal for literacy.
Moreover, there is evidence that the books have widened the experiences of students. The sound
selection of quality books from authors often unknown prior to the Programme and covering a wide
range of new topics, has influenced children to expand their horizons.
In addition, there is evidence that the Books have not only increased reading skills but have provided
support for improved writing and resources for other areas of the curriculum.
In terms of turning around a socially and culturally intractable problem, it is possible to say that the
Programme has impacted in a way that other more generic programmes have not.
There is evidence of impact on student reading skills, reading habits, self esteem and confidence, and
valuing literature. While not yet impacting at a national benchmark measurement level, possibly
because the base is so low, these outcomes are the prerequisites for impact on literacy over time.”
Testimonials from Principals
Cost Effectiveness “This project has been one of
the most worthwhile and cost effective projects
encouraging awareness of, and promoting literacy
with students as well as parents.”
School Attendance “The high quality new books
provided by Books in Homes are special to the
children and their families, as they are not second
hand cast offs. The books are valued as a gift, the
children are excited to receive them and therefore
excited about reading them. After choosing their
books from the catalogue, each morning students
often bombard me with “are the books here
yet?”These books have also provided great
incentive for school attendance.”
Reading for Fun “Reading is the single most
important skill that remote, Indigenous school
students can possess. The Books in Homes
Programme, through increasing the exposure and
contact of my students to literacy in the home, plays
a vital role in helping them not only learn to read,
but to experience the joy of reading for pleasure.”
Books in Homes Page 4 of 7
Giving Families Choice, Literally
What type of programmes does Books in Homes offer?
There are 3 specific Programmes designed for children from birth to late Primary. These include:
The Books in Homes 0-3 Programme;
The Books in Homes Preschool Programme and
The Books in Homes Primary Programme.
Each Programme gives students and families the choice of books, which leads to increased exposure to and
enjoyment of quality reading materials. Each Programme will provide the following:
A Preview Pack The Preview Pack allows students and families
to view all the books on offer prior to making their selections.
Following this, it is donated to either the school or Early Childhood
Learning Centre for all to access.
Catalogues
Glossy Book Catalogues are distributed to families
and students each term. They include further information on the
titles on offer, an order form, a competition and a Thank You to
Sponsors.
Caught Being Good Books & Certificates
Additional
books and certificates are provided as a tangible reward for
educators to use as incentives and rewards. This presents reading in
a positive light and ensures it is at the forefront of students minds.
Books for Families & Students Each participating family and
student will receive nine books per year (three books in each of
Terms 1, 2, and 4). The books may include: picture books, novels,
non-fiction, drawing books, how-to-books, Indigenous themes, and
special interest books.
Book Labels – A label or name plate is provided for each book
which emphasises the two most important characteristics of the
Books in Homes Programmes – choice and ownership.
Book Bags – Each term, families and students receive a sturdy
waterproof bag to keep and protect their books.
Competition Awards
– Each term, students who enter the
Competition are eligible to win 1 of the 20 prizes on offer. All
students who enter will receive an Achievement Certificate.
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Investment in Books in Homes
Your investment in The Books in Homes Programme will be allocated as indicated below:
0-3
Programme
Preschool
Programme
Primary
Programme
A
Individual Book Cost
Book cost
$9.77
$5.23
$5.23
B
Book label cost
$0.10
$0.10
$0.10
C
Subtotal = A + B
Book Cost Per Family / Student
Books per family / student, per year
$9.87
$5.33
$5.33
9
9
9
$88.83
$47.97
$47.97
F
Subtotal = C x D
Materials Cost Per Family / Student
Book bag (1 per term in 3 terms)
$6.15
$4.50
$4.50
G
Preview Pack
$17.58
$2.79
$7.53
H
Caught Being Good books and certificates
$5.91
N/A
$2.61
I
Cost per student = E + F + G + H (80% of total amount)
$118.47
$55.26
$62.61
J
Administration Fee (20% of total amount)
$29.61
$13.82
$15.66
$148.08
$69.08
$78.27
Code
D
E
Books in Homes Programmes
Total Cost Per Family / Student Per Year excl. GST = I + J
These prices are exclusive of individual corporate branding costs.
The Books in Homes 0-3 Programme is directed at families who have children aged from birth to age
3 and it is the families who choose the books to engage with their children in the reading process.
The Books in Homes Preschool Programme and the Books in Homes Primary Programme is directed at
students and they are given the opportunity to choose books, that they like, to take home and read
with their families.
“The Books in Homes Programme has helped to create some beautiful bonding time, special
moments, and wonderful memories for families that otherwise would not have occurred. It been
such a wonderful introduction to the Kalkaringi Community with nothing but beneficial outcomes.
The children, parents, grandparents and teachers really appreaciate the Books in Homes
Programme and what it has contributed to the community; not to mention the wonderful, versatile
bags they provide!”
Alex Veldums, Family Educator, Families as First Teachers , Kalkaringi School, NT
Giving Kids Choice, Literally
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Foundation Background & Contacts
The Charitable Foundation for Books in Homes Australia was established in 2001. It holds the legal entity of a
Trust with deductible gift recipient status endorsed by the Australian Tax Office. The Foundation is managed by
a National Programme Manager with the assistance and support of a dedicated team including volunteers. The
books are supplied and distributed by Scholastic Australia, under contract to Books in Homes Australia.
Trustees
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Mr. Brett Kingston
Mr. Richard Jones
Mr. Danny Lee
Mr. Frank Pearce
Managing Director, Gainsworth Group of Companies
General Manager, Westpac Rescue Helicopters Hunter/Central/mid
north/NE and NW
Divisional Operations Manager – Tatts Group
University Lecturer and Education Consultant
Books in Homes Team
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Mrs. Kim Kingston
Ms. Laura Hodgson
Ms. Hester Lee
National Programme Coordinator
National Schools’ Coordinator
National Operations Coordinator
Book Selection Committee Representatives
The books are chosen by the Books in Homes Book Selection Committee which meets three times a year. The
Committee is presented with an extensive list of 72 titles which is honed down to 48 books. It is a prerequisite
that 25% of titles in each of the Programmes be written by Indigenous Authors.
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Ms. Raylene Saunders
Ms. Susanne Gervay OAM
Ms. Judy Smith
Ms. Jackie Hawkes
Ms. Gillian Maugle
Ms. Amy Borg
Mr Christopher Cheng
Ms. Randa Abdel-fattah
Mr. Mitchell Lowrie
Ms. Averill Piers-Blundell
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Mr. Andrew Berkhut
Ms. Cassandra Rathbone
Mrs. Kim Kingston
Ambassadors
Aboriginal Educational Consultant, Social Inclusion, NSW DEC
Author
Manager, NT Open Education Centre, NT DET
Childrens Book Council, NSW Branch
Teacher-Librarian, Wiley Park Public School, NSW
Student Engagement Unit, University of Western Sydney
Author
Author
Aboriginal Project Officer, Human Resources, NSW DEC
Director Indigenous Early Learning Programs, Faft, NT Dept of
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Childrens Publisher, Scholastic Australia
Books in Homes Book Selection Editor, Scholastic Australia
National Programme Coordinator, Books in Homes Australia
Pro-Bono Advisory Organisations
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Mr. Murray Hartin, Bush Poet
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Ernst & Young (Auditors)
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Kellaway Cridland (Accountants)
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Dr. Anita Heiss, Author
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Baker & McKenzie (Legal)
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GPP Consulting (Strategist)
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Susanne Gervay OAM
Empowering Kids, Literally
Contact details:
Kim Kingston, National Programme Coordinator, Books in Homes Australia
Phone: (02) 9434 2488 Email: [email protected]
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