School Spotlight: Riverland Special School, SA

Nestled in the heart of Berri, South Australia, Riverland Special School educates 55 students with diverse learning needs. Recently, the school was granted a Library Regeneration program, providing 178 brand-new books for their library, a grant that has sparked excitement and connection amongst all of the students.

The school shared the impact of the Library Regeneration program:

“The students were so excited with the range of books that arrived, and our senior students have enjoyed sharing these with our younger students and reading them new stories. Thanks so much for your support – we feel privileged to be involved and supported by Dymocks Children’s Charities.”

The goal of the Library Regeneration program is simple yet powerful: to ensure that every child has access to quality, engaging books that inspire a lifelong love of reading. At Riverland Special School, this has translated into joyful moments where older students read aloud and bond with their younger peers, fostering a warm and inclusive learning environment.

We are proud to support Riverland Special School in their mission to nurture literacy and imagination. These new books are more than just pages; they are opportunities for learning, growth, and connection that will benefit these students for years to come.

Include a Charity Month Will

September is a special time dedicated to thoughtful generosity through planned giving. Including a charity in your will is one of the most meaningful ways to leave a lasting impact, ensuring your values and passion for supporting children’s literacy live on for generations to come.

Leaving a gift in your will is simple and flexible, whether you choose to leave a fixed amount, a percentage of your estate, or a specific item. Your generosity can open doors to education, imagination, and opportunity for countless young readers for years to come.

We are pleased to offer our supporters a free will-writing service to help you create or update your will easily and at no cost. It’s a straightforward way to take care of your wishes while leaving a meaningful legacy.

This September, consider planned giving as a powerful way to make your values endure. Your legacy today can inspire a lifetime of learning for children tomorrow. Thank you for thinking ahead and making a lasting difference. Get started here!

Creative Design Competition: Celebrate the Joy of Reading!

Dymocks Children’s Charities is inviting students across Australia to take part in our Creative Design Competition. We’re looking for inspiring and imaginative artwork that shows what reading means to young minds — whether it’s a doorway to adventure, a source of comfort, or a spark for imagination.

The competition is open to all Australian students. Winners will receive a $300 book pack, a Certificate of Achievement, and a feature spotlight on our website and social media.

We can’t wait to see how reading inspires the next generation of creators!

Get ready for the Inspired Readers Festival in Port Macquarie!

The magic of books is coming back to the Mid-North Coast! From Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 November 2025 (Term 4, Week 5), the Inspired Readers Festival will celebrate storytelling, imagination, and the joy of reading for primary school students across the region. This festival is all about connecting young readers with some of Australia’s most beloved authors and illustrators, sparking creativity and a lifelong love of reading. Read more here!

This year’s incredible line-up of authors and illustrators include Corey Tutt, Jacqueline Harvey, Jade Goodwin, Joel McKerrow, and Nat Amoore. Through engaging school sessions, students will discover the inspiration behind their favourite stories, explore the creative process, and enjoy interactive experiences that make reading come alive.

The Inspired Readers Festival will conclude with a very special Fundraising Dinner with the Authors at The Westport Club. This unique evening will bring our community together to celebrate the joy of reading and raise vital funds for children’s literacy.

Guests will enjoy an intimate panel conversation with our festival authors, plus a raffle, auction, and other surprises. Most importantly, every ticket purchased and every dollar raised will help put brand-new books into Mid-North Coast school libraries, opening doors to opportunity for local children.

By joining us, you’re not just attending a dinner—you’re investing in brighter futures through the power of stories.

Giving Day 2025 Wrap Up

On Thursday, 21 August, our incredible community came together for Giving Day, raising vital funds to support Dymocks Children's Charities' literacy programs and foster a lifelong love of reading for children across Australia.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we raised over $50,000, helping us continue to provide brand-new books to children who need them most.

A special thank you to our Foundation Partner, Dymocks Books & Gifts, who matched donations up to $10,000, doubling the impact and ensuring every contribution went further for disadvantaged children.

Adding to the excitement, over 30 incredible authors visited Dymocks stores across Australia, signing books, chatting with customers, and spreading the joy of reading.

We are sincerely thankful to each of them for giving their time and energy to this important cause:

Ali Lowe, Alli Sinclair, Belinda Murrell, Benjamin Stevenson, Cassie Hamer, Darcy Tindale, David Hicks, Eva Amores, Fiona Lowe, Gabriel Bergmoser, George Invanoff, Grantlee Kieza, Jacqueline Harvey, Jeremy Lachlan, Jessica Seaborn, Joel Mckerrow, Juliet Marillier, Kate Foster, Kate Horan, Kaye Baillie, Kristin Darrell, Lili Wilkinson, Madeline Te Whiu, Matt Cosgrove, Meredith Costain, Nat Amoore, Nathan Luff, Ramona 'Mo' Davey, Sarah Foster, Stefanie Koens, Stephen B Platt, Stuart Wilson, Sue Lawson, Tristan Bancks, Will Kostakis, Zena Shapter.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who generously gave their time to help make Giving Day such a success.

If your organisation would like to become a matched giving partner for next year's Giving Day, please contact us here to learn how you can double the impact of donations for children's literacy.

Together, we can continue to inspire young readers, strengthen communities, and make a lasting impact—one book at a time.

Book Week Isn’t Just for Kids: Let’s Celebrate Stories Together!

Book Week (17–23 August) is more than costumes and children’s books — it’s a time to celebrate the power of stories at every age. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, librarian or supporter, this is your chance to reflect on the books that shaped you, and to pass that joy on to the next generation.

This year, make Book Week even more meaningful by joining the Library Boost Project, our flexible fundraiser that helps put brand-new books into school libraries where they’re needed most.

Here are a few simple (and fun) ways for adults to get involved:

• Organise a dress-up day

• Host a  book swap

• Run a story-themed morning tea

• Share your favourite childhood book on social media and tag us!

Every activity can help promote a love of reading or raise funds to support our literacy programs. If you’re not taking part in a fundraiser, remember you can still join us for Giving Day on Thursday, 21 August, where every donation will be matched, doubling your impact for children in need.

Get involved or learn more here!