QLD government continues funding for SLQ First 5 Forever literacy program

14 June 2018 Books+Publishing

The Queensland state government has announced it will continue its annual commitment of $5 million to continue the First 5 Forever early literacy program delivered by the State Library of Queensland (SLQ).

The funding was announced as part of Tuesday’s 2018-19 state budget, with Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch commending SLQ for the success of the program and its positive effect on families with young children.

‘Queenslanders have embraced this program and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down, with 1.93 million attendees since 2015, and more than 900,000 participants in 2017 alone,’ said Enoch in a statement. ‘The program is far reaching and imaginative in its approach, with free activities including story times in libraries and “splash and learn” gatherings in public pools.’

Launched in 2014, First 5 Forever aims to raise community awareness of the benefits of early learning in the first five years for children. The program provides parents and primary caregivers with access to resources and library programs that help promote early childhood literacy, and is available across a statewide network of more than 320 public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres.

Find out more about the program here.

Category: Library news