Kindness Connects: Meet Reading Friends

Published on 04 June 2026

Reading Friends - Building Confidence One Page at a Time

For the second article in our Kindness Connects series, we spoke with local charity Reading Friends Australia, a volunteer-led organisation supporting children to build confidence and skills in reading. Their work is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful changes begin with something as simple as sitting down with a book. 

Founder and Chair Luciana De Michiel developed the program after working in primary schools as both a volunteer and employee, where she found many students were leaving year six with only basic, often insufficient, reading skills. 

This observation is supported with research published in 2024 by the Grattan Institute showing that one in three children in Australia struggle to read proficiently. For many children, this affects not only confidence and self-esteem, but also future opportunities in education, training, and employment.  

Luciana set out to address these issues with a practical and simple approach. The Reading Friends program pairs trained volunteers with primary school students for regular reading practice during school hours. 

“At the centre of the program are trained Reading Helpers in schools who work one-on-one or in small groups with students. Schools identify the children and set the timetable, while Reading Friends Australia recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers to meet each school’s needs,” said Luciana. 

The program ran its first sessions at Moss Vale Public School in 2020 and has since grown steadily. It now supports around 180 children each week across 11 public primary schools in the region.  

"Reading and comprehension are fundamental life skills. Over time, I've seen children grow not just in ability, but in confidence and enjoyment."  - Frank, Reading Friends volunteer 

For volunteer Annette, the transformation in children stands out most. "I've worked with children who would say, 'I don't like reading' or 'I can't read'. After regular practice, that changes to 'I like reading with you' or 'I can read now!’”  

For those considering volunteering, Annette said the rewards are deeply personal and lasting. "You can make such a difference to each child that reads with you. You help build confidence, foster a love of reading, and become part of a wonderful community." 

This homegrown program has already expanded across NSW, and they look forward to bringing Reading Friends to more schools and communities throughout Australia. 

If you'd like to learn more about Reading Friends, including how to get involved as a volunteer, visit: Reading Friends Australia  

Council is proud to celebrate local charities like Reading Friends through the Kindness Connects series, recognising the people and groups helping build a more inclusive and connected Wingecarribee Shire. 

Get your group listed! Do you run a local club, service, charity or community event? Add it to Council's MyShire Community Directory so more people can find the support and activities available across the Southern Highlands.