More than 20% of Aussies can’t understand documents and paperwork that are critical to daily life, and 30% say they have “little-to-no confidence” helping their kids with homework, new research shows.
The new study by Censuswide, commissioned by Texthelp, reveals the extent to which people grapple with basic literacy skills, with almost a quarter (23%) of those surveyed stating that they struggle to understand documents critical to everyday life, such as important paperwork or contracts.
The report forms part of a broader campaign titled “Words Can’t Hold Us Back”, which has been launched to raise awareness of the prevalence of literacy challenges in Australia, while highlighting the solutions available for Australians to overcome these barriers.
The nationwide survey of 2,000 Australians also found that 56% struggled with literacy skills when at school, while 23% said they don’t find the task of reading aloud to primary aged children easy.
“We have known that a number of Australians struggle with the literacy requirements of everyday life – in education, at work and socially. What this report highlights is the prevalence of these literacy challenges across Australia,” Greg O'Connor, Head of Education for AsiaPac at Texthelp, told The Educator.
“What is most telling for me is that this impacts on things that a lot of people take for granted - filling in a form, understanding necessary information that is in a written form, and just generally navigating the digital world we found ourselves in.”
O’Connor said it was “no wonder” those interviewed expressed low self-esteem by feeling embarrassed and inadequate because of their literacy.
“There is an opportunity to ensure everyone has access to the right help and resources, including technology, to remove these barriers. This is a benefit not only to each individual but to Australia at large, to give everyone the best opportunity to fully participate in our country's future.”
Teacher-Speaker-Leader-Poet Founder of #aussieED, Brett Salakis is a big believer in the power that digital technologies have in changing lives. He says most adults would “struggle to complete a modern working day without technology”.
“That same relevance flows directly to students and how they learn. As educators, we can passively watch our students become immersed in a sea of technology or we can make strategic-purposeful decisions to equip them we the right technology support to not only support their learning but to help them thrive,” Salakis told The Educator.
“During the height of the pandemic, schools had to adapt quickly to remote and technology-led learning. Now that we have transitioned back to face-to-face teaching, many educators have realised the potential long-term benefits of incorporating education technology tools into the classroom, and the role it can play in improving student outcomes.”
Salakis said that his time as an educator has shown him first-hand the detrimental impacts poor literacy skills can have on the wellbeing of children into adulthood.
“As a result, I am excited by the potential that appropriate tech tools can play in shaping the lives of the students in our care.”