2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge launched – register now

• 2024 challenge underway for Queensland schools and early childhood centres
• Aims to get children reading, and to develop a love of reading

The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) for Queensland schools and early childhood centres is officially underway for 2024.

Education Minister Di Farmer launched the 2024 PRC at Berserker Street State School, in Rockhampton.

The PRC is an annual statewide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as children aged up to 5 years enrolled in an early childhood centre.

It aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning.

The reading period for Prep to Year 9 students runs 7 May to 23 August, while the early childhood reading period is 12 to 23 August.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is supported by official sponsors QSuper and MultiLit and media partner The Courier-Mail.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“Our government is committed to giving Queensland kids the best start in life and that starts with a good education.

“I am proud to continue the decades-long tradition of the Premier’s reading challenge.

“Kim and I have always encouraged our kids to pick up a book and I want to make sure the next generation of Queenslanders is doing the same.”

Quotes attributable to Education Minister Di Farmer:

“This wonderful, long-standing initiative has been running in Queensland since 2006.

“It encourages children to read, and to develop a love of reading.

“Literacy and comprehension are such important parts of a child’s education, and reading regularly is such a vital component of that learning journey.

“Last year, more than 110,000 children and students participated in the challenge in 889 schools and 323 early childhood centres, reading more than 1.5 million books.

“As impressive as those numbers are, we’re hopeful of beating them this year.

“I’m sure with the help of enthusiastic schools like our hosts today, Berserker Street State School, we’ll be able to do just that.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke:

“It’s amazing for a school who is so dedicated to improving the literacy of its students to be able the school to launch this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge.

“A love of reading is so important for children, and we need to do as much as we can to encourage kids to read.

“I look forward to being able to drop into the school later in the year to check in on the progress of the students in this year’s challenge.”

Quotes attributable to Berserker Street State School Principal Ryan Gilmour:

“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to have Minister join us at Berserker Street State School to launch the 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge.

“The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a great initiative that promotes literacy and encourages families to read at home and develop a love of reading for lifelong learning.

“Berserker Street State School has actively engaged with the Premier’s Reading Challenge over the last 11 years and it’s exciting to be a part of the launch of the 2024 challenge which I am certain will see stronger interest this year with the launch occurring right here at our school.”

For more information on the Premier’s Reading Challenge visit https://readingchallenge.education.qld.gov.au/.

ENDS

Media contact: Tim Auguston 0427 090 563