- More than 26,000 students took part in the Premier's Reading
Challenge 2025
- This year, students collectively read more than 420,000 books
- Award winners announced today, with two
students inducted into the Reading Challenge Hall of Fame
Premier Roger Cook
and Education Minister Sabine Winton today recognised the efforts of students
from across Western Australia who excelled in the 2025 Premier's Reading
Challenge.
More than 26,000
students from kindergarten to Year 12 took part in the challenge, which ran
from April to June. They read a staggering 420,000 books.
At a ceremony at
Parliament House yesterday, two students were also inducted into the Reading
Challenge Hall of Fame - awarded to students who have won their age category
for three consecutive years.
The challenge
invited metropolitan and regional students to read and log a range of reading
material from eBooks, short stories, graphic novels, podcasts, poems and
talking books.
Year 11 and 12
students - included for the first time this year – were expected to read at
least six books, with kindergarten to year 10 students needing to read 12 books
or more.
The program also
delivered 4,500 local books to WA children aged three to four years via
KindiLink centres, which are a play and learn initiative for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children rolled out across 38 public schools.
A total of 1,200
staff volunteered as Challenge Champions to coordinate student engagement.
The reading
challenge operated in partnership with the State Library, KindiLink centres,
Fremantle Press and the Children's Book Council of WA.
Comments attributed
to Premier Roger Cook:
"I'm pleased today
to announce the Premier's Reading Challenge award winners for their exceptional
efforts in the annual literary challenge – and it was wonderful to see strong metropolitan
and regional representation this year.
"Reading is a
critical life skill setting the foundation for further learning, and it
contributes greatly to future academic and employment success.
"Congratulations to
all the students and schools who won awards and to those who participated in
the reading challenge."
Comments attributed
to Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"As a
former teacher, I know how critical reading is for students' development.
"The
Premier's Reading Challenge is a fantastic way for students to develop their
language skills and vocabulary, while enjoying the art of storytelling – and
getting the chance to win some fantastic prizes along the way.
"It's
wonderful to see so many students and schools from all corners of the State
took part in the 2025 Premier's Reading Challenge.
"Congratulations
to this year's award winners and everyone who participated."
