WA Premier, Roger Cook and Education Minister, Sabine Winton, have today officially launched the Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2025, inviting students to start a new reading chapter.
Now in its fourth year, the annual literacy engagement program encourages students to develop a love of books, reading, and improve language and literacy skills.
This year, for the first time, the challenge is open to all Western Australian students from Kindergarten to Year 12.
“I’m thrilled that the Premier’s Reading Challenge is back for another year – and students right across the State, in our suburbs, towns and regional communities can all get involved,” said Premier Cook.
“The challenge is an incredible initiative that improves students’ literacy skills, expands vocabulary, and builds a sense of achievement.
“I hope to see even more students immersing themselves in new stories this year.”
Kindergarten to Year 10 students need to read 12 books or more between the months of April and June, while Year 11 and 12 students must read at least six books to complete the challenge.
Students can log a range of reading formats including short stories, graphic novels, eBooks, talking books for the visually impaired, audiobooks, podcasts and poems.
Students who log their reading achievements each week have the chance to win a range of prizes, motivating them to read more and enhance their literacy skills.
“As a former teacher of 27 years and a mother of three, I know how important reading is for children’s development,” said Minister Winton.
“I have seen firsthand how reading can shape young minds. This challenge is a fantastic way for students to explore new ideas, expand their vocabulary, and fall in love with storytelling.
“I encourage all WA students to participate in this year’s challenge and escape into a world of exciting stories for a chance to win some fantastic prizes along the way.”
School staff can register to be challenge champions and promoters in their school, while WA authors will once again support the initiative by hosting workshops in classrooms, narrating their titles for a virtual storytelling series, and appearing as guests on the challenge podcast, Between our pages.
Last year, the challenge saw a record-breaking 54,000 students read 860,574 books, a significant increase from 355,559 in 2023.
