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Did you know that 46% of Australians have literacy levels below what is considered enough to get by in everyday life?

Easy to read materials help organisations connect with the wider community

Photo of a lady reading some literary material

Literacy levels in Australia today

In Australia today, approximately 46% of adults aged 15 to 74 have a literacy level below what is considered enough to get by in everyday life.

The 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALLS) was conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as part of an international study on literacy levels. These are the most current literacy results available in Australia. A new literacy study, the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), is underway and the results will be published in October 2013.

In the 2006 ALLS, the developers of the survey regarded a literacy level of 3 as the "minimum required for individuals to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work in the emerging knowledge-based economy."

The survey was broken into five different categories: prose, documents, numeracy, problem solving and health. In most of the categories, large percentages of people fell into the lowest levels of literacy: level 1 and level 2:

  • Prose – 46% of the general population at Level 1 or 2
  • Document – 47% of the general population at Level 1 or 2
  • Numeracy – 53% of the general population at Level 1 or 2
  • Problem solving – 70% of the general population at Level 1 or 2
  • Health – 60% of the general population at Level 1 or 2

These results have important implications for large organisations and government departments. Successful communication strategies take these figures into account and shape printed resources or web content accordingly.

A range of people in the communityUnder the Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992, all governments in Australia – Commonwealth, State, Territory and local government – have a responsibility to provide equal access to information on laws and government programs.

By drawing on our knowledge of the literacy levels in the community and how to communicate clearly with the widest possible audience, the Information Access Group helps organisations increase engagement and participation. 

We design content in a way that makes it easier for people – including those with low literacy levels – to read, understand and act on information.

We specialise in addressing the communication needs associated with Indigenous cultures, cultural diversity, language diversity, age diversity and people with disabilities. Many of our publications are also tested with focus groups to ensure their success.