The Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP) believes that Australia’s Indigenous people should enjoy the same education, employment and societal opportunities as other citizens. However, a lack of literacy skills among Indigenous communities is a common and critical barrier to participating in activities that many of us take for granted.

To help alleviate this literacy disadvantage, The Fred Hollows Foundation is working in close partnership with remote Indigenous communities in the Jawoyn region, located east of Katherine in the Northern Territory. These communities include: Barunga, Eva Valley, Bulman and Wugularr. 

In 2008 The Foundation is extending its work in the area of literacy to the following areas.

• Katherine East Region, Northern Territory
  In 2008 the area supported by the ILP will be expanded to include the entire Sunrise Health Services (SHS) region. This will mean that in addition to the five communities of Gulin Gulin (Bulman), Wugularr, Manyallaluk (Eva Valley), Barunga and Urapunga which already are benefiting from the project, four new communities will participate. These are Jilkminggan, Werebun (Edith Falls), Minyerri and Ngukurr.
• Ngaanyatjarra Region, Western Australia
  ILP will target eight communities represented by the Ngannyatjarra Council.  Papulankutja, Mantamaru, Patjarr, Tjirrkarli, Wanarn, Warakurna, Warburton and Wingellina will now benefit from ILP through the efforts its English as a Second Language Coordinator as the local ILP Officer.
• Western New South Wales
  ILP will reach communities in Brewarrina, Wilcannia, Ivanhoe, Engonnia, Bourke, and Menindee.
• Woorabinda, Queensland
  The expansion of ILP delivery into Queensland, where the project began, has been a long term goal. More recently the flooding of January 2008 that devastated the region will have resulted in the loss of much of its literacy resources.

The Wugularr community is located 425 kilometres from Darwin or about 1.5 hours drive (120 kilometres) south east of Katherine. Wugularr is home to around 550 people.

There are approximately 110 children who go to school in the community. The school has a library and a small number of computers that students and teachers use as part of their classroom learning activities.

A new community resource centre is being built. This has been facilitated by The Foundation in partnership with a number of key supporters. The resource centre will also serve as a library for the whole community. The centre will be a central place for the community to meet and to learn new skills. It will also provide access computer technology and a range of library materials.

Wugularr also hosts the ‘Walking with the Spirits’ festival at Beswick Falls. This is usually a sacred place but on a special weekend in July, the Traditional Owners invite visitors to picnic or camp out for the corroboree, which can attract dancers, musicians (and visitors) from far off communities and countries. The event is designed to bring youth and elders together to retain culture and tradition.

Other services in the community include: a local store, health clinic, Council office, women’s centre and a preschool (which is attended by around 25 children).

Barunga is located 85 kilometres east of Katherine and 395 kilometres from Darwin. The town is home to approximately 350 people.

Up to 50 children attend the local school in Barunga. The school has a small library and a number of computers which are used by the teachers and students. While the school itself is quite small but it has long been recognised as one of the best planned remote schools in the region.

Barunga also hosts an annual Cultural and Sports festival (8-11 June) each year. Now in its 23rd year, the festival is a nationally recognised cultural event.

Other services in the community include: a local store, health clinic, Council office, women’s centre and a preschool (attended by about 16 children).