Better Beginnings Grants

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 and learning for all Western Australian children by encouraging families to read, talk, sing, write and play with their child every day.

The key aim of Better Beginnings is to support the development of literacy in children from birth; providing them with greater potential to grow, learn and develop, perform well at school, and succeed in later life. Improved literacy levels across Western Australia contribute to the creation of a skilled workforce and future economic development.

In March 2021, the State Government made an election commitment to support the equitable delivery of the Better Beginnings program across Western Australia. This commitment included the creation of a new grants program of $200,000 for four years.

The grants are for Western Australian community groups, centres and libraries that help promote literacy in 0-5 year olds. Any organisation with programs and ideas encouraging families to ‘read, talk, sing, write and play with their child every day’ is welcome to apply.

Micro Grants from $5,000 to $10,000 are available for small projects, and Innovation Grants from $10,001 to $30,000 are available for larger programs or initiatives. Public Libraries and community organisations are able to apply for both.

Successful grant recipients are listed below.  The final round of grants will be offered in September 2024.

For more information email slwa.grants@slwa.wa.gov.au