Winning two major community awards in 2025, St Raphael’s School is bringing back its Reading Revolution event this June. The event encourages parents to embrace reading as a valuable alternative to increased screen time. It shows how families can help children rediscover a love of books, reduce time on devices, and support their development as curious, engaged learners.
The event took out top honours at both the 2025 Unley Council Australia Day Awards and the Catholic Education South Australia Innovative Program Award. Now set to return this month, the Reading Revolution will take place on Thursday night, 19 June during St Raphael’s read-a-thon.
And no, your child doesn’t need to be a St Raphael’s student for you to attend. It’s totally open to the public, and you’ll just need to register for the night.
“Just because children can read doesn’t mean they want to read,” Principal Emma Fowler says. “We must fix this. Seeing children beam with pride as they talk about their favourite books—that’s the moment we work for.”
Supporting mental wellbeing, creativity, and academic success, the program includes a read-a-thon, expert panel discussions, and workshops for parents and carers of children from pre-school to Year 6.
The main event, and the one you won’t want to miss as a parent, is the key panel session on Thursday, 19 June from 6 to 7:30pm. Children are welcome on the night and can join their parents in the sessions or take part in supervised play or library activities during the event.
The expert panel will feature Bec Hughes from Raising Literacy Australia, who will speak to pre-school parents. Mandy Foot, a children’s book author and illustrator, will present to parents of children in Reception to Year 2. Andrew Joyner, also a children’s book author and illustrator, will focus on the needs of Year 3 to Year 4 families. Children’s author Tania Ingram will lead the session for parents of Year 5 to Year 6 students.
To kick off the evening, you’ll be welcomed into a shared space where each panel member will offer an introduction and some great tips that resonate across age groups.
As attendees split into breakout groups, each panellist will provide age-appropriate advice to help families support literacy at home. Sessions cover the importance of reading aloud, library visits, picture books, and how early reading supports brain development. The sessions will follow a set program but remain flexible, allowing for as many or as few questions as attendees have.
As everyone reconvenes, they’re invited to share their discoveries and top tips with the entire group, leaving with fresh ideas and practical advice to take home.
Principal Fowler describes the event as “a movement to reclaim reading as the cornerstone of wellbeing and intellectual growth.”
“Immersing yourself in a book isn’t just an escape; it’s an investment in your mind, your creativity, and your future. We’re here to show families that books are the antidote to screen addiction.”
Upon the school’s Innovative Program Award win, the Catholic Education South Australia praised the program for uniting families, educators, and early learning centres to promote reading. It noted the school’s work as an example of best practice.
“Our children are growing up in a hyper-connected world dominated by screens and fewer children are reading for fun. This is also contributing to lower reading and writing standards. This is further compounded by less face-to-face conversation which is reducing the rich, language-filled experiences that support early literacy development,” Fowler says.
“Screen time, especially when it’s passive, like watching TV or videos, can displace the rich language interactions children need in their early years. It limits the number of conversational turns they experience, which directly impacts vocabulary development and comprehension.”
The week-long event is helping to turn the page on excessive screen time, with tailored advice to get your children inspired and imaginative. Attendance at the panel on 19 June is totally free and just requires registration, and you can register using the link below.
Fowler continues, “To be a lifelong reader is to hold a passport to endless worlds—real and imagined. It brings academic and professional advantages, certainly, but it also builds empathy, confidence, and resilience. Reading helps us understand ourselves and others. It keeps curiosity alive and opens doors to opportunity.”
St Raphael’s Reading Revolution Panel
Where: St Raphael’s School, 114 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside
When: Thursday, 19 June, 6 – 7:30pm
Price: Free
For more information and to register, click here.
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