Student Stories

Adult Learner Stories

Over Read Write Now's extensive years of service, thousands of individuals have worked with volunteer tutors to achieve their personal and professional goals. These are just some examples:

Peter, who was approaching 60 years of age, was in fear of losing his job as his literacy problems prevented him from keeping up with workplace training. His tutor developed a learning program over a period of 2 years based initially on the forms, regulations and safety instructions in Peter's workplace. Peter was not only able to keep his job, he was given a promotion and no longer had to worry about his worst fear, “...to be left on the scrap heap".

Maria had lived in Western Australia for 30 years but never had the opportunity to learn to read and write in English. Breaking the mould of the traditional Italian grandmother, Maria now wanted more in life than cooking and fussing over her family. Maria wanted to learn to read and write to obtain her driver's licence, use a street directory and telephone book so she could do voluntary work in the community and later some part-time study. Working with her tutor on a learning program based on her needs, Maria was able to achieve her goals.

Brett, an apprentice plumber, was very competent on the job, but he struggled with reading and studying and his employer had given him the ultimatum to pass his TAFE exams. Brett sought the help of a Read Write Now tutor who developed a literacy program based on Brett's course materials.

Rebecca always thought she was stupid because she could not spell and was a very weak reader. Her family were almost all illiterate and she was determined not to let that happen with her own children. When her daughter started school Rebecca was too scared to write a sick note, fearing that teachers would laugh at her. Two years after she started working with a tutor she enrolled at College, which led to eventually doing her university entrance exams. She started at Curtin University and graduated with distinctions in most subjects. Rebecca now writes tenders for a building company - very successful tenders too! Her children are now adults working in well paid jobs and forever grateful that Rebecca asked for help all those years ago to improve not only her life, but theirs as well.

Recount of recent cultural experiences by RWN student Cecil

Lifelong reading and learning is the broad term for education that occurs after school as Cecil’s story demonstrates. Cecil contacted the Read Write Now office six months ago. He recently moved with his family from a small Indigenous community in the Kimberley region to Perth. Working as an Aboriginal Engagement Liaison Officer at a Secondary School he understands the importance of lifelong learning and self-improvement to ensure job security and future growth opportunities for himself and his family. Cecil is passionate to serve as a role model to the young people at his school and community who look up to him and who he wants to inspire to follow through to reach their goals and to maintain a positive cultural identity for wellbeing, belonging and connectedness. Read Cecil’s recount of his and his family’s recent cultural experiences, written during tutoring sessions with RWN Tutor, Ann.

Smoke and Mud Ceremony conducted by the Gija and Nyininy Jaru people of the Warmun Community In November, my wife and I took our twin babies back to the community for a smoke and mud ceremony. This is a tradition that has been handed down through the generations to keep the babies strong. First, we break up the earth from an anthill into chunks and put these pieces over a slow-burning fire. The fire is made from the roots of the bush berry, (mabarra.) Young, green leaves from two eucalypts, (demalal and manyinyi), are added to the fire. We stir the mud lumps over and over in the fire. When they are black, we remove them from the fire. We break them into small pieces, we crush them and add water to make a mud mixture. We rub the babies with this mud. We approach the fire to let the babies smell the smoke. We wrap them securely and cover ourselves with a big blanket to keep the smoke in. The smoke helps them sleep well at night. We stay under the blanket for a short time, just long enough for the babies to give a little cry or cough. The babies don’t get bathed until the next day. They have their bath in boiled, cooled water with the same type of green leaves we use for the smoking ceremony. Published in The Herald, Saturday March 4, 2023 - Page 10

My Reading and Writing Journey by RWN student Shorn

'When I arrived in Australia, I could not read and write and could only spell my name and a few other letters. I joined Read Write Now 20 years ago. Now I can read and write very well but spelling is still challenging for me so I continued with Read Write Now.

I am happy that I can read and write and to be able to fill out forms. It is a great achievement for me to know that I can do all those things. I never knew how to use a computer, to read, to write, and to spell. The Read Write Now tutor taught me how to use a computer and now I can do so without much help.

When my daughter and I travelled oversees for holiday, I could fill out the forms at the airport and did not have to rely on my daughter. We went on a trip around the Caribbean islands and visited my family. My daughter loved it very much.

I am so thankful for the help, I have received over the years from the tutors. Thank you Read Write Now for giving me the ability and opportunity to be able to do things that I could not do before.'

Vicki's story about her difficulties at school

Read Write Now student Vicki tells her story about her difficult experiences at school, her frustration at not being able to learn like others did and how by having the courage to make one phone call, she accomplished so much.

' I just couldn't understand how the other kids could just get it, how letters and numbers all seemed so easy, why their books would look so tidy and neat. I just didn't know why or how I was different. I remember being made an example of and still hear the teacher's words: "See, this is what happens when you don't pay attention."'

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