Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program
Round 5 of the Better Beginnings Community Grants open for applications
The State Library’s Better Beginnings program is a Western Australian family literacy initiative that connects families with books through free reading packs. Our goal is to inspire a love of reading for all Western Australian children by encouraging families to read, talk, sing, write and play with their child every day.
The annual grants program supports recipients to deliver early reading and literacy activities tailored to their communities. Since 2021, the State Library has awarded more than $800,000 in grants to successful applicants across the state.
The 2025 grants are open for applications from 22 August until 26 September 2025. A pool of $200,000 is available to public libraries, community groups and not-for-profit organisations to deliver early reading and literacy activities tailored to their communities.
Micro Grants from $5,000 to $10,000 will be available for small projects, and Innovation Grants from $10,001 to $30,000 will be available for larger programs or initiatives. Public libraries and community organisations can apply for both.
An online information session has been scheduled for Thursday 28 August, from 1pm–2pm to answer questions, provide support and share learnings from the previous rounds. Register here for the session.
How do I apply?
- Download the guidelines and eligibility criteria.
- Applications can be submitted via Submittable. Please note, you will need to create an account on Submittable.
- Should you require further information regarding the Better Beginnings Grants Program, please contact Michelle Campbell, Education Officer, on 9427 3115 or email michelle.campbell@slwa.wa.gov.au
Previous Successful Applicants
Round 4 2024 Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program – Successful Applicants
| Applicant | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLAN Midland Inc | Ready, Set, School | $30,000.00 |
| City of Mandurah | Community Garden Storytime - Let's grow together! | $30,000.00 |
| Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd | Janigun: at the beach | $19,935.00 |
| City of Gosnells | Learning Launchpad | $14,400.00 |
| Shire of Quairading | Paint Quairading REaD Literacy Project and Quairading Sensory Education Tent | $12,520.00 |
| City of Stirling | Stories, Rhyme and Sign | $10,000.00 |
| Shire of Gingin | Early Years Backpacks | $10,000.00 |
| City of Wanneroo | Feel the Wonder of Stories - Sensory Tales | $9,900.00 |
| City of Joondalup | Literacy Playtime Bags | $8,900.00 |
| Play Matters Australia | Let’s Play in Language | $8,846.00 |
| City of South Perth | Read and Play Packs | $7,995.90 |
| Shire of Harvey | Sensory Journeys: Enhancing Early Literacy through Sensory Play Workshops | $7,156.70 |
| Shire of Carnarvon | Story Tent Fun! | $6,415.81 |
| Multilingual Australia | Bilingual Beginnings: Empowering Families Through Storytime | $6,370.00 |
| Town of Bassendean | Sensory Rhyme Time | $5,500.00 |
| Gidgegannup Primary School P&C Association Inc | Growing Better Beginnings for Gidgegannup | $5,283.20 |
| Shire Wyndham East Kimberley | Read, Rhyme & Shine | $5,105.00 |
| Shire of Narembeen | Sensory sparks adventures - Sense & play in Narembeen | $5,000.00 |
| Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale | SJ Little Learners in the Park Series | $5,000.00 |
Round 3 2023 Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program – Successful Applicants
| Local Government/Community Organisation | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mirima Council Aboriginal Corporation | Multilingual board books with audio support | $27,000 |
| Broome | Little Fulla Yarns Storytime Project | $14,985 |
| Melville | Whadjuk Noongar Language Storytime | $23,500 |
| Culture Care WA Inc | Building Bilingual Learning Culture | $30,000 |
| Dardanup | Interactive Touch eLearning Tables | $11,184 |
| Communicare Inc | My Play School extension | $29,693 |
| Vincent | STEM Play | $6,958.50 |
| Joondalup | Reading Ready Packs | $9,992.16 |
| Williams | Rhyme Time Plus | $8,255 |
| Cockburn | Toddler – Sing and Play | $7,160 |
| East Pilbara | Music and Movement | $8,131.95 |
| Wyalkatchem CRC | Wylie Tots Storytime | $7,121.81 |
| Armadale Community Family Centre | Brain Boost – Drumbeat! | $5,170 |
| Karratha | Journey/Explorer Packs | $9,500 |
Round 2 2022 Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program - Successful Applicants
| Local Government/Community Organisation | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Port Hedland | Outdoor Storytime – Celebrating Pilbara Culture | $28,000 |
| Library for All | Library for All | $30,000 |
| Communicare Inc | Play School Program | $29,900 |
| Busselton | The Storytime Way | $30,000 |
| Joondalup | City of Joondalup Inclusive Early Childhood Program | $10,000 |
| Melville | Sensory Storytime Project | $9.937.97 |
| Investing In Our Youth | Sensory Storytelling | $6,626 |
| Cunderdin CRC | Tales for Tots | $7,000 |
| Useless Loop Playgroup | Story Time | $6,333.48 |
| Nannup | Little Possums | $7,760 |
| York | Little Ditties | $5,040 |
| Serpentine Jarrahdale | Early Learning Discovery Project | $5,000 |
| Stirling | Wandjoo to Nyoongar | $10,000 |
| City of Nedlands Floreat Toy Library | Literacy through Play | $5,349 |
| South Perth Toy Library | Toy Stories | $9,915 |
Round 1 2022 Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program - Successful Applicants
| Local Government/Community Organisation | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Canning | Cultural Ambassadors | $10,000 |
| Boyup Brook CRC | Stories, Rhymes and Fun Times | $9,151.80 |
| Bunbury | Teddy Bears Roadshow | $9,711 |
| Quairading CRC | Quairading Story Time | $5,040 |
| South Perth | ABC, You and Me | $9,900 |
| Port Hedland | Outdoor Indigenous Literacy Classroom | $8,010 |
| Wanneroo (Micro) | It’s All About Learning Together: Senses Alive | $8,930 |
| Boddington | Adventure Storytime | $5,000 |
| Swan | Building Inclusive and Imaginative Communities | $5,000 |
| Kalgoorlie-Boulder | Adding Literacy to Library Playground and Sensory Garden | $9,643 |
| Wanneroo (Innovation) | It’s All About Animal Tales | $21,779 |
| Earbus Foundation | Listen Well, Learn Well, Live Well | $30,000 |
| Broome | Little Fulla Yarns Storytime | $20,293 |
| Plantagenet-Mount Barker | Reading for Generations | $14,055 |
| CLAN Midland | Read, Play, Grow in CALD and Disadvantaged Communities | $29,817 |
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