On Monday 15 April the 25th anniversary of the Reading Writing Hotline was celebrated in Sydney. The Hotline offers important information and advice on available literacy courses and literacy qualifications nationally. TAFE NSW manages this well-respected service with funding provided by the federal Department of Education.
Vanessa Iles current manager of the Hotline compered the event. The main speakers were: Lyn Wilson Team Leader Literacy TAFE NSW, David Riordan Director of City Operations City of Sydney and Don Perlgut the CEO of Community Colleges Australia. Lyn has worked in the literacy field for many years and is the proud recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award, Australian Training Awards. Both Don and David possess an historical connection with the Hotline.
Speakers Lyn Wilson Team Leader Literacy TAFE NSW, David Riordan Director of City Operations City of Sydney and Don Perlgut the CEO of Community Colleges Australia.
Current Reading Writing Hotline Team
While Policy Manager at the ABC in 1994, Don Perlgut, was responsible for the commencement of the Reading Writing Roadshow on national television. David Riordan, CEO of TAFE NSW’s Australian Literacy Information Office at this time, wrote the successful tender proposal to provide literacy support to the show. This saw the birth of the Reading Writing Hotline. David later went on to steer the Hotline in his role as Director, Sydney Institute of TAFE. Don Perlgut is still actively involved and is currently on the Hotline’s National Steering Committee.
One of the main highlights of the celebration was the slide show. It outlined some of its key services and case studied some amazing stories of literacy participants. It was great to see both current and past teachers of the Hotline mingling afterwards during afternoon tea.
The videos of learner’s stories is still available on their website.
https://www.readingwritinghotline.edu.au