A special National Volunteer Week event with Dr Paul Swan
Last month, as part of National Volunteer Week, we celebrated the dedication of our incredible Read Write Now Volunteer Tutors. With this year’s theme “Connecting Communities,” we reflected on the real impact our volunteers have through literacy, numeracy, and digital support. A key highlight was our interactive workshop with Dr Paul Swan, one of Australia’s leading voices in maths education.
Dr Swan’s workshop provided our tutors with practical, hands-on strategies for teaching maths in ways that are fun, accessible, and confidence-building for adult learners. The session focused on breaking down the barriers that many students face when approaching maths — especially those who may have had negative experiences with the subject in the past. Through interactive activities, games, and simple tools, tutors explored how to build trust and encourage understanding by using real-world, relatable methods.
Importantly, Dr Swan delved into the language of maths — an area that often presents hidden challenges for learners — and explained why some concepts are more difficult to grasp. His approach helped tutors gain deeper insight into how to simplify and personalise maths instruction to meet a learner’s needs.
Tutors also received a range of maths resources available on Dr Swan’s website. These include printable games, activities, and instructional materials that can be easily adapted to tutoring sessions.
We’re incredibly grateful to all of our Read Write Now volunteers for their continued dedication to supporting adult learners in literacy and numeracy. Your work changes lives — and strengthens communities across Western Australia. ❤️
