We were delighted to see Read Write Now featured in Issue No. 414 of Have a Go News, September 2026.
The article, “It’s never too late to learn or start a new chapter; finding confidence through learning,” shares the inspiring stories of Brad and Terry and shows how one-to-one tutoring can build not only literacy skills, but also confidence and independence.
Their experiences are a wonderful reminder that learning can happen at any stage of life — and that the right support can make a lasting difference.
For Brad and Terry, learning to read later in life has brought something far greater than words on a page — it has given them confidence. Every Thursday morning, 68-year-old Terry meets his tutor Mike at Mandurah Library. Together they work through reading, writing and maths exercises as part of the free Read Write Now program.
“I must admit I do enjoy doing the homework,” Terry says — something he never imagined saying when he was younger.
Terry believes he fell behind at school and never caught up. Books were rarely part of his life, but after five months of one-to-one tutoring, that is changing.
“I now understand that having dyslexia does not stop me from being able to read and write,” he says. “I just needed more one-on-one tutoring.”
Terry is learning letter sounds, building words and slowing down when he reads. He now reads books, discusses them with his wife and friends and enjoys television game shows involving words and numbers.
Across Perth, Brad, 64, has been working with Read Write Now tutors for several years.
“When I started with Steve, I could barely read,” he says.
Brad struggled to see as a child but refused to wear glasses because he thought they looked uncool. After being teased, he began avoiding school and left unable to read or write.
He moved from South Australia to Perth at 18 and built a successful working life, including 22 years with a grain handling company. His work was mainly physical, but he often depended on others to read documents, complete forms or explain written information.
“I have been lucky with people in my life who have stepped in to help,” he says. “Being so dependent on other people has not been good for my self-confidence.”
Despite working exhausting night shifts, Brad continued attending tutoring sessions. Today, he can confidently write and spell his name and address, recognise common words and read short stories.
“I’m not saying I’ve found this easy, but I’m learning all the time,” he says.
Brad has since been diagnosed with dyslexia and now happily wears glasses — including a pair with blue lenses — to help him read.
Although their lives have followed different paths, Brad and Terry share an important discovery: they were always capable of learning. They simply needed someone to teach them patiently and in a way that worked for them.
Their stories capture the spirit of Adult Learners Week. Learning does not always mean gaining a qualification. It can mean reading a book, filling in a form independently or sounding out a word that once seemed impossible.
It is never too late to learn — and struggling with reading or writing is nothing to be ashamed of.
