Wednesday 22 January 2025, Sydney, Australia: In the lead up to the back-to-school season, Children’s Panadol is joining forces with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) for the inaugural Building Brighter Futures campaign, which will help kids develop important literacy and numeracy skills and raise awareness of the links between literacy and lifelong health.
Nearly 44% of Australian adults today do not have the functional literacy skills they need to cope with the demands of everyday life, including challenges related to health and wellbeing.1 This means nearly half of Australian adults struggle reading the directions on medication labels, filling out forms at the doctors and measuring the right dosage of a medicine.
The Building Brighter Futures partnership between Children’s Panadol and ALNF hopes to highlight how strong foundational literacy skills, developed in childhood, are essential not only for academic success but also for thriving in everyday life.
Lucy Durack, Australian actress and ALNF ambassador, says it’s important we all work together to ensure all children in Australia can access the resources they need to develop and grow their literacy skills.
“Literacy is the foundation of a child’s future. It shapes their ability to understand and engage with daily challenges, make informed decisions and communicate effectively with others. By fostering strong literacy skills, we can equip children not only to succeed academically but in all aspects of their lives.”
“I'm proud to support this campaign focused on building brighter futures for all Australian kids,” said Lucy.
With research showing that poor literacy is linked to poorer everyday health, improving literacy rates is one of the biggest silent challenges facing Australians.
Kim Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of ALNF, says that the back-to-school partnership comes at a critical time as schools prepare to welcome students back for another year.
“It’s estimated in every class of 24 students, eight cannot read well.2 As we get ready for the new school year, it is vital that improving literacy is high on the agenda. We hope this initiative shines a light on the important role literacy plays in creating and maintaining a healthy life both in and outside the classroom,” says Kelly.
“It’s important that we continue to think about the different ways we can support children’s literacy in Australia and ensure all children have access to the resources, programs and support they need to thrive.” she said.
As part of the partnership with ALNF, Children’s Panadol, in collaboration with Chemist Warehouse, will be launching a shopper initiative. The initiative, which launches on January 15 and concludes on March 31, 2025, will see Children’s Panadol donate 50c to the ALNF for every pack of Children’s Panadol sold at any Chemist Warehouse store across Australia.
Elena Pintado, Head of Pain at Haleon, the makers of Children’s Panadol, says the link between health and literacy is undeniable.
“Health and literacy are interlinked. Strong literacy skills empower us to make informed health choices, understand medical information, and lead healthier lives,” she said.
“We’re proud to be partnering with ALNF, not only to raise awareness of these links but to also help ensure that all Australian children are supported as they continue to grow and develop their literacy skills,” says Elena.
All funds raised will go towards supporting ALNF’s literacy programs, which focus on improving the literacy and numeracy skills of Australian children, particularly in disadvantaged communities. To learn more about ALNF and their programs, visit: https://www.alnf.org/
About us:
ABOUT HALEON
Haleon (LSE / NYSE: HLN) is a global leader in consumer health, with a purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity. Haleon’s product portfolio spans five major categories - Oral Health, Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health and Other, and Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS). Its long-standing brands are built on trusted science, innovation and deep human understanding. For more information, please visit www.haleon.com.
ABOUT ALNF
The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation is a national charity seeking to assist people in our most marginalised communities to gain vital language, literacy and communication skills. Their specialised and innovative programs address the needs of a diverse range of individuals and communities – specifically supporting First Nations, refugee and other vulnerable Australians.
References:
1. The National Early Language & Literacy Strategy. NELLC, 2021. Available at: https://speechpathologyaustralia.cld.bz/Proposed-National-Early-Language-and-Literacy-Strategy-WEB
2. Grattan Institute’s Report, The Reading Guarantee, 2024.
Contact details:
Sarah Rumsey
Palin Communications
0488 060 047
Juliette Bagwell
Palin Communications
0433 336 487
