With Harmony Week approaching, it’s a timely reminder of the cultural diversity that enriches our communities. Many Read Write Now learners come from English as an Additional Language (EAL) backgrounds and continue building their English skills through one-to-one tutoring — even after living in Australia for many years or completing formal English programs.

Learners often focus on improving conversational English, pronunciation, literacy and vocabulary so they feel more confident in daily life, work and study. Some use tutoring to prepare for TAFE courses or keep up with coursework, while others want to communicate more easily with colleagues or better understand workplace language.

For many learners, sessions with a Read Write Now volunteer tutor are their main opportunity to practise English. As one learner shared, their tutor was “very professional and patient… choosing books at my level so I could practise reading, listening and speaking each week and learn new words.” Another learner said using newspapers, books, apps and YouTube videos during tutoring helped them feel more confident speaking English and writing.

In regional communities, this support can be especially important. In Katanning, Read Write Now facilitator Kerry Palmer runs weekly sessions for migrant and refugee men and women, helping participants build English skills while also learning about everyday life in Australia. The sessions provide a welcoming local space for parents — particularly mothers — to practise English while their children engage in early learning activities. Programs like this help fill important gaps in regional areas where migrants and refugees may have limited access to the Adult Migrant English Program.

Through personalised tutoring and community-based programs, Read Write Now helps adult learners strengthen their English, confidence and connection to work, study and community life.