Dedicated volunteer Wendy Bean, RNSH patient Carmen with her son Paxton, and RNSH NICU Nurse Manager Claire Blackburn A lifelong love of reading begins at RNSH
Newborn babies at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) have received a special delivery of books to mark International Literacy Day. Celebrated annually on 8 September, International Literacy Day highlights the critical importance of literacy as a fundamental human right and the role it plays in helping people learn, communicate and participate fully in society. Each year, books are donated to babies in RNSH’s maternity ward and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), encouraging families to begin reading together from their child’s earliest days. The initiative is led by the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, with each book wrapped and accompanied by information explaining the benefits of reading to babies from birth. Dedicated volunteer Wendy Bean has now delivered books to newborn babies at RNSH
for 19 years. “We give these books to newborn babies to encourage reading and literacy, which has so many benefits,” she said. Among the recipients this year was baby Paxton, who was receiving care in the NICU. Paxton’s mother Carmen is a passionate literacy advocate, making the gift particularly meaningful for her family. “Literacy is a very important part of children’s lives, especially from a young age,” she said. “They might not know it yet, but it starts with parents understanding how literacy can help shape their lives. The more children can communicate, the more they can explore the world and find their own course.” The annual delivery provides families with more than a first book. It offers an invitation to begin sharing stories, building connections and fostering a lifelong love of reading from the very beginning.
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 19| 4 OCTOBER 2024 NSLHD NEWS | ISSUE 18 | 25 SEPTEMBER 2026
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