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Presentation Description:

Creative Australia and Writing Australia will present new insights from three studies exploring how Australians engage with reading across the lifespan.

The first examines how children aged 2 to 15 engage with arts and creativity in their daily lives, including reading and consumption Australia stories. It explores children’s attitudes towards reading, how they share these experiences with family, friends, and teachers, and who shapes and influences their reading choices.

The second study draws on the 2025 National Arts Participation Survey, a landmark series conducted since 2009. It looks at how Australians aged 15 and over engage with arts and creativity, including reading for pleasure. The study highlights reading habits across different demographic groups, how Australians discover new books, and their attendance at literature events.

The final study focuses on Australian adult reading engagement, identifying the most effective interventions to address the declining reading levels in Australia. It builds on existing research including the Understanding the Australian Reader research published by Australia Reads and Monash University’s Behaviour Works Australia.

These three studies offer a comprehensive view of reading engagement across the lifespan and provide evidence-based insights to guide decision-making and policy development.