This tool might help you with Step 2: Create a plan of action with your community
There are two sources of data that can help you work out approximately how many people in your community might need literacy support.
1. Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) carries out surveys from time to time on what are known as “Adult Literacy and Life Skills”. These cover five measures of literacy.
In 2006, when the last ABS survey was done, Tasmania’s rates for each measure of literacy as a percentage were:
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION | TASMANIA |
|---|
| Prose literacy | Being able to read books, newspapers, magazines and brochures | 51.0% |
| Document literacy | Obtaining information from bus timetables, charts and graphs | 49.3% |
| Numeracy | Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and calculating percentage | 43.8% |
| Problem solving | Working through day-to-day challenges and their consequences | 26.9% |
| Health literacy | Reading and interpreting medicine labels, information and advice | 36.5% |
SOURCE: Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey, Summary Results, 2006, Catalogue Number 4228.0, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2008
2. Program of International Assessment of Adult Competencies
ABS also administers an international tool for measuring literacy called the Program of International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIACC).
The tool measures literacy, numeracy and problem-solving in technology-rich environments. It rates skills from Level 1 to Level 5, where Level 1 is the lowest level of literacy. Level 3 is defined as the minimal level to function fully in society and the modern work environment.
A survey was done in 2011–12 and the results for literacy and numeracy at Levels 1 and 2 are included here.
| TYPE | LEVELS | TASMANIA | AUSTRALIA |
|---|
| Literacy | Level 1 and 2 | 48% | 44% |
| Numeracy | Level 1 and 2 | 58% | 55% |
If you would like someone to come and help you better understand the data as it applies to your community, contact 26TEN on freecall 1300 00 2610 or email@26ten.tas.gov.au.