Literacy Advocate & Code REaD Chairperson Dr Sandra Marshall - Finalist for 2020 South Australian of the Year Award.

It is with great excitement that Code REaD Dyslexia Network announce that our Chairperson, Dr Sandra Marshall has been selected as one of the finalists for the 2020 South Australian of the Year Award!

Sandra advocates nationally for evidenced-based reading practices to be mandated in all schools across Australia. In her voluntary role with our not for profit organisation, Sandra works tirelessly to help others and takes time out of her busy schedule to meet with Federal and State education Ministers and other influencers of education, to discuss the state of literacy in Australia.

Sandra’s advocacy has seen South Australian schools implement the Year One Phonics check – with the Federal Education Minister, Hon Dan Tehan MP, proposing to implement the checks nationally.

As a doctor providing mental health support both at her general practice and a local school in South Australia, Sandra knows the terrible impact that poor literacy has on mental health and life outcomes – and the valuable role that the right type of literacy instruction and intervention can play. Her determined approach to solving our literacy crisis has inspired thousands across Australia to join her in advocacy.

About 20 per cent of children in Australia are at risk of reading failure – while 39 per cent of 15- year-olds do not meet the national proficient standards in reading literacy, and in response, Sandra has made it her life’s work to change the nation’s literacy outcomes for the better.

We wish Sandra the very best for the Awards Ceremony which will take place on November 6th, 2019.

Read more about Sandra’s journey to improve Australian Literacy here