Inspired Readers Festival

The Inspired Readers Festival is a celebration of storytelling, creativity, and the power of books to connect young people with reading in new and meaningful ways.

Delivered across the Mid-North Coast of NSW, the festival has reached 65 schools and more than 2,500 students, spanning from Taree in the south to Armidale in the west and Bowraville in the north. Across multiple regional events, students have had the opportunity to engage directly with leading Australian authors and illustrators, participate in interactive sessions, and explore the craft behind storytelling.

Past festivals have featured some of Australia’s most beloved children’s authors and illustrators, including Corey Tutt, Deborah Abela, George Ivanoff, Jacqueline Harvey, Jade Goodwin, Joel McKerrow, Nat Amoore, R.A. Spratt, and Tristan Bancks.

The Inspired Readers Festival continues to highlight the importance of access to books, storytelling experiences, and author engagement in building confident, lifelong readers.

A classroom with students raising their hands. The room has a wooden slatted ceiling, several ceiling fans, and digital screens displaying a presentation by Borah Abela.
A group of children sitting on chairs in a classroom or auditorium, listening to a woman speaker standing in front. There are large screens behind her displaying cartoon characters and book covers, with posters and a door visible in the background.
A diverse group of children standing in line outdoors around registration tables at an event, with some people seated at the tables and others waiting.
A group of children wearing school uniforms and hats standing in line outdoors, listening to a man with a hat and sunglasses who appears to be giving instructions or speaking to them.
Four boys in maroon uniforms with blue accents and red hats standing on grass, each holding a different book, outside a modern building on a sunny day.