What is literacy?

As defined by the Literacy Advisory Panel: 

“Literacy involves listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, and creating texts, and using and modifying language for different purposes in a range of contexts. Literacy encompasses the knowledge and skills needed to access, understand, analyse and evaluate information, make meaning, express thoughts and emotions, present ideas and opinions, interact with others. It involves a continuum of learning to enable individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.”

The Literacy Advisory Panel’s definition of literacy combines definitions from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).