LitUp communities set to revitalise reading
July 28, 2025
Australia Reads has announced the 27 successful schools, libraries and bookshops who will host LitUp events with authors and illustrators in their local communities – many in regional and remote locations.
The program received more than 130 applications for LitUp for the pilot year, showing demand in Australia for opportunities to connect with books, reading and authors – particularly in regional and remote locations in Queensland and New South Wales
LitUp encourages a lifelong love of books and reading through in-person connections with Australia’s world-class authors and illustrators.
The program provides funding and training to support the delivery of a series of community-led live literature events in each area.
A partnership with Creative Australia and Copyright Agency, LitUp aims to help communities overcome social, geographic and financial barriers that prevent them from hosting events with authors, supporting them to bring the benefits of reading and live literature to their area.
“We are delighted to be participating in the inaugural year of LitUp! This wonderful opportunity will inspire us to flourish as lifelong readers.
It is vital for children, young people, educators and the whole NSW far west community to enjoy books with authors and illustrators, as advocates of storytelling and reading for joy. We’re so glad to be taking part.” — Jane Vaughan, Big Sky Stories, Broken Hill
“Congratulations to all the schools and community organisations selected to take part in the first very LitUp program. We’re delighted to support this important new initiative through our Cultural Fund, and to see such a strong representation from regional and remote communities for the pilot program. We’re looking forward to hearing from the authors, illustrators and communities about the connections made, the stories shared and the impact of these visits.” — Josephine Johnston, CEO, Copyright Agency
“A growing body of evidence, including Australia Reads research, shows that early and sustained engagement with reading helps shape lifelong habits, with far reaching benefits for education, literacy and health. LitUp builds on this by creating new opportunities for children in regional and remote areas to connect with authors and illustrators. By supporting events that inspire joy and curiosity around books, we’re helping to nurture confident young readers and a love of literature that lasts a lifetime.” — Leisa Bacon, Executive Director, Development & Partnerships, Creative Australia
Participating organisations are based in Queensland and New South Wales, the two pilot states for the first year of the program, and their events will run between February – June 2026.
The participating schools, libraries and bookshops will work with each other, and Australia Reads over the coming months to select and invite authors and illustrators to visit the following communities:
Queensland
- Boulia Shire Library, Boulia Shire
- Cairns Libraries, Cairns
- Cairns School of Distance Education, Cairns
- Clifton State High School, Warwick
- Deception Bay State School, Deception Bay
- Kepnock State High School, Coral Coast
- Mount St Bernard College, Herberton
- Pimlico High School, Townsville
- Quilpie Shire Council Library, Quilpie Shire
- St Joseph’s Parish School Weipa, Weipa
- Warwick West State School and the Library Network Group, Warwick
New South Wales
- Big Sky Libraries, Moree Plains Shire
- Big Sky Stories, Broken Hill
- Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Canobolas
- Coffs Harbour Libraries, Coffs Harbour
- Hilltops Council Libraries, Hilltops Shire
- Inverell Shire Public Library, Inverell
- Leeton Shire Library, Leeton Shire
- Maitland City Council Libraries, Maitland
- Newcastle Libraries, Newcastle
- Raymond Terrace Public School, Newcastle
- Ross Hill Public School, Inverell
- South Grafton Public School, Grafton
- St Joseph’s Primary East Maitland, Maitland
- Telarah Public School, Maitland
- The Book Connection, Dubbo
- The Turning Page Bookshop, Blue Mountains
About Australia Reads
Australia Reads is a joint initiative to get more Australians reading, supported by the ALIA, APA, ASA, BookPeople and a range of industry partners. LitUp and the Author & Illustrator Directory were designed in line with the findings of the Live Literature research report produced with the University of Melbourne, and sector research into schools. You can find out more at australiareads.org.au
For media and enquiries, please contact:
Anna Burkey, Head of Australia Reads
0406 485 450 | anna.burkey@australiareads.org.au