Become an adult literacy tutor in the Noosa area

Sunshine Coast Council is calling for volunteers interested in enrolling in accredited training in May to become an adult literacy tutor in the Noosa region.

Library and Gallery Services Manager, Ross Duncan said Sunshine Coast Libraries are offering the adult literacy training with funding support from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

"This year, 2012, is the National Year of Reading and research shows that nearly half of the Australian population cannot read newspapers, follow a recipe, make sense of timetables or understand the instructions on a medicine bottle," he said.

"Council offers free literacy programs for adults to assist them to become functionally literate by helping with reading, writing and basic computer skills and the volunteers play an important role in the success of these programs.

"Volunteers will complete an accredited training course and in turn help improve literacy standards on the Coast.

"Anyone can become a volunteer literacy tutor, complete the accredited training and obtain the tools and information required to help community members improve their literacy."

There are limited spaces on the course and applicants will be interviewed prior to commencing the training.

Volunteer literacy tutor training courses will be held at Noosa Library on 14 May and Cooroy Library on 16 May. The courses include 12 weekly, three hour training sessions.

To become a volunteer literacy tutor phone Noosa Library on 5442 4411, Cooroy Library on 5454 9000 or visit www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au for further information.