Fewer kids open books for fun, prompting calls for national reading strategy
Studies suggest Australian children are not reading for pleasure as often as they used to, prompting advocacy groups to call for a national reading strategy.
A recent study has revealed that fewer Australian children are reading for pleasure after the pandemic, prompting calls for a national reading strategy. While a majority of Australians express a desire to read more, literacy and library organisations are concerned that children are prioritizing costumes over books during events like Book Week.
Experts warn that access to books is a postcode lottery, with children in lower economic regions lacking sufficient access. A 2025 study from the University of South Australia found that reading for fun had decreased from 10.8% in 2019 to 52.5% in 2022. NAPLAN reading results also show a decline, with 74.5% of year 5 students reading at a strong or exceeding level in 2023, down from 71% in 2026.
The decline is not limited to children, as 30% of all Australians did not read a book in the past year. Australia Reads CEO Anna Burkey has called for a national reading strategy, including mandatory school libraries with proper resources and staffing. Literary consultant Sarah Mayor Cox emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the joy of reading over technical skills, with programs like Dolly Parton's Imagination Library playing a crucial role in building literacy skills early on.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
