NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
Encouraging Australian School Children to Read
A program run by the New South Wales Government encourages children across the state to read by setting goals and providing them with a list of age-appropriate books.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is an initiative of the NSW Government originally instituted by Premier Bob Carr to encourage school-aged children to read. It is open to students in Kindergarten to Year 9 attending State or private schools and also includes home-schooled students.
To complete the PRC, students are required to read a designated number of books from a set age- appropriate booklist available on the website. Booklists can be downloaded in a short (author, book title, PRC ID code) or long (author/title, publisher, ISBN, PRC ID code, brief summary of book) form. The additional information in the long format allows teachers and parents to ensure that children are selecting books that are appropriate.
The PRC commences on 1st September each year and concludes on the 30th August the following year. All students who complete the PRC are issued with certificates, which are distributed through their school during December.
Levels of Challenge
The challenge is divided into sections (K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-9) and a separate booklist for each section is available. Some books are on multiple lists. Students are able to choose books from the list for the level they are completing or higher. Books from a lower level will not qualify. (eg a student completing the 3-4 challenge can count books read from all lists except the K-2 list). The lists have been compiled to assist parents in choosing age appropriate reading materials for their child.
Children who are advanced readers for their age are able to complete a higher level challenge if they desire. The K-2 challenge allows students to simple ‘experience’ a book, so they can include books that they have read themselves and also books that have been read to them. Higher challenges require students to personally read all books included on their list.
How to Register
Schools can register through the PRC website from March each year. If a school is not planning to register, information is available on the PRC website from March for parents who wish their children to complete the challenge independently.
Completing the Challenge
Reading log forms are available to download through the PRC website and are often distributed to students by the libraries of participating schools. Details for students who complete the PRC can be completed online once the school has registered.
Local council libraries and school often have books from the PRC reading lists marked with a sticker or other indicator to assist children in borrowing books that qualify towards their total. By regularly visiting the school and/or town library, it should be a simple matter to have access to sufficient books to successfully achieve the required total.
Getting Involved
Some schools have incorporated books from the PRC into their school reading program. Others are offering additional incentives to children who read beyond the required number of books.
An article regarding participants in the PRC appears in the Sunday Sun-Herald newspaper each week.
Books from the PRC children's booklists read during the MS Readathon count towards the PRC totals as well as helping to raise money for MS research and patient support. The MS Readathon is held in June each year and is the major fundraising effort of the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Society.
Victoria and South Australia run similar Premier's Reading Challenges through their own State School system.
