We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the vision, support and strong community behind Paint The Town REaD.
If you’d like to be a part of our children’s literacy movement, get in touch. There’s definitely a place for you.
Kate Arthur
What do you do? I work at AMP Financial Services in the Digital Marketing team.
Why is children’s literacy important to you? When I first found out 1 in 5 Australian children don’t get the start they need in their education and the impact this has on the rest of their schooling, employment prospects, health and happiness, I was shocked and disappointed. How can this number be so high in a country such as Australia?
How do you help? I’m the Chairperson of the Board. Alongside other board members I focus on the strategic direction and sustainability of Paint the Town REaD.
Barbie Bates
What do you do? I am Executive Director of PTTR, with a background in pediatric Occupational Therapy.
Why is children’s literacy important to you? I was drawn to PTTR, initially because of the power of reading with children for building bonding with their parents, and powerful effect this has on their growing brains. ‘Books and bonding build babies’ brains’.
How do you help? I head up operations management of PTTR, by using a collective impact assets based community development framework to grow our movement. Best part? Meeting with the amazing teams of PTTR workers across Australia, seeing the difference we’re making.
Hugh Campbell
What do you do? I am the General Manager for Honest to Goodness foods.
Why is children’s literacy important to you? I greatly enjoyed reading to my daughters, and to this day I see their constant fascination with a good book. The literacy statistics unfortunately for many young Australians is staggeringly poor, and it was an easy decision to support this charity in any way I could.
How do you help? I am the Treasurer on the Board and am responsible for the financial management of the charity, as well as supporting the Board on relevant decision making and direction setting.
Rhonda Brain
What do you do? I am a retired primary school principal, founder and creative director of PTTR
Why is children’s literacy important to you? I continue to be motivated by the desire to address the emotional needs of belongingness, worthiness and competency in children. Poor literacy skills can devastatingly affect the fulfilling of these needs. Quality remedial teachers and programs can’t make up the shortfall if children start Kindergarten with poor language and pre-reading skills.
How do you help? I work closely with our Executive Director and the Board to develop creative ways to encourage everyone to read with their children from birth.
Jen Hookey
What do you do? I am a Risk Assurance partner at PwC Australia.
Why is children’s literacy so important for you? Literacy empowers each child to learn and grow, as literacy provides the foundational building blocks upon which, other skills can be learned. If we can increase literacy for children, in both rural and urban communities across the country, we can have not only a positive impact on each child but on greater society as well. The opportunities for those children to make better decisions and embrace learning throughout their lifetime are endless.
How do you help? I am the Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee, as well as supporting the Board on strategic direction and the sustainability of Paint the Town REaD.
Therese Mathews
What do you do? I work for AMP as the Business Lead for Employed Advice and Business Delivery.
Why is children’s literacy important to you? Reading is a key tool to achieving future financial and emotional wellbeing and every Australian child deserves that opportunity.
How do you help? I am Company Secretary focused on supporting the effective governance of the Board and also a member of the Fundraising Committee identifying opportunities to promote and expand the reach of PTTR.