Young readers in Victoria marked a significant milestone as they celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, with over three million books read during this year’s event. On September 30, 2025, Premier Jacinta Allan recognized the achievements of more than 76,200 young readers who participated this year, along with the contributions of 741 schools, 1,141 early childhood services, and 1,736 home-based readers.
Celebrating Literacy and Imagination
This year’s theme, “20 Years of Words and Wonder,” encapsulated the joy and adventure that reading brings to children. Participants had the option to choose from a diverse selection of more than 15,000 books featured in the challenge booklist, or they could opt for their own selections, which included picture books, short stories, poems, and non-fiction titles. Notable among the popular choices were works by Australian authors such as Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry, A Leaf Called Grief by Kelly Canby, and The Truck Cat by Victorian author Deborah Frenkel.
The challenge, which ran from March to September, encouraged students in years three to ten to read at least 15 books during the six-month period. Younger participants in Prep to year two were invited to read or experience 30 books, while children in early childhood services aimed for 40 books with family support.
Impact Over Two Decades
Since its inception in 2005, the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge has engaged over 4.7 million students and children, who collectively have read more than 66 million books. This initiative is designed to nurture literacy, ignite imagination, and foster a love of learning among young students, further enhancing Victoria’s reputation as the Education State.
To continue this momentum, the Allan Labor Government announced an investment of over $1.2 million to provide a bag full of free, engaging books for prep students starting school in 2026. This initiative aims to strengthen the foundation of reading and literacy for the next generation.
Premier Jacinta Allan expressed the significance of the challenge, stating, “The Premiers’ Reading Challenge has fostered a love of reading for millions of young Victorians for 20 years, and this year has once again shown the importance of building confidence and sparking imagination for lifelong learning.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll also acknowledged the role of parents and caregivers, saying, “I want to congratulate every parent and carer who has supported their child’s learning and love of reading as part of this challenge – each word, page, and chapter will go a long way in their education journey.”
For further details regarding the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit the official website at vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge.
