By Cara Kemp
A book gifting program that has provided free books to hundreds of young children in Cowra faces an uncertain future due to funding challenges.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which currently has 337 children enrolled in Cowra, delivers free books each month to children from birth to age five.
The program had been funded by the NSW Government since 2019, but this grant expired in June 2024.
While savings allowed United Way Australia, which administers the program, to continue operating until the end of 2024, Cowra Council has spent $2,907 to help fund new registrations until the end of the financial year.
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During a vote last year, council agreed to lobby both state government and local MP Steph Cooke to secure additional funding to support the program, as council would have to spend over $70 thousand a year
Though without long-term funding, the program’s future remains at risk.
While Cowra Council supports the program in principle, its ability to provide financial backing is limited due to other community priorities.
Alan Dalton, Director of Corporate Services at Cowra Council, praised the program’s positive impact.
“It is a great contribution to helping develop the young, emerging readers of our community,” Mr Dalton said.
“Council is very grateful for the funding commitment that the state government has provided up until this time.”
“It has a very positive effect on local families because it provides the resources that are needed for parents to develop an educational relationship with their children.”
Mr Dalton acknowledged that while Council will advocate for continued government funding, it is not in a position to fully fund the program itself.
“My firm hope is that the state government decides to follow the lead of its predecessor and commit to funding this program in the future,” Mr Dalton said.
“But I'd also like to see them go one step further, and that would be to make a commitment to fund this program on an ongoing basis.”
“The needs of the community don't simply evaporate after a funding period is concluded.”
“Unfortunately, the financial needs of the program make it a very difficult decision for Council to fund it fully," he said.
Council has committed to advocating for the program by lobbying local MP Steph Cooke and urging the state government to maintain its funding commitment.
Steph Cooke, Member for Cootamundra, also voiced her concerns about the program's uncertain future.
“The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a vital program supporting over 13,200 children, helping to foster a love of reading and improve early literacy skills,” Ms Cooke said.
“Yet, its future is now at risk, with no funding commitment from the NSW Government to ensure its continuation,” she said.
Ms Cooke has been vocal in Parliament, advocating for the program’s continuation.
“I have already raised this issue on the floor of the NSW Parliament and written directly to the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, raising my concerns on behalf of our impacted communities,” Ms Cooke said.
“Cuts to the program are already impacting local communities, including Cowra, where 337 children currently benefit, and Junee, where 80 children are enrolled.”
“Without guaranteed future funding, our children will be disadvantaged and deprived of an essential educational resource.”
Ms Cooke urged the NSW Government to take action.
“Despite Cowra and Junee Shire Councils stepping up to support the program financially, the NSW Government has remained silent on its long-term funding,” she said.
“Local communities should not have to carry this burden alone.”
The program’s success lies in its ability to prepare children for school by fostering a love of reading from an early age.
“The early years are critical for literacy development, with research consistently showing their impact on future learning success,” Ms Cooke said.
“Programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library ensure children, regardless of their postcode, have access to books and opportunities to build strong literacy foundations,” she said.
Leo Krikmann, Program Manager for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Australia, has witnessed the program's impact firsthand and stresses the need for continued support.
“If we want to see sustainable change within a community, the longer the program can be maintained, the greater the impact,” Mr Krikmann said.
“The program is designed to develop children's ability to be ready for school.”
“If we give kids a good start from the beginning, those first few years of brain development are absolutely vital for their long-term success.”
Research shows that early literacy is a key factor in a child’s future educational success, and Mr Krikmann believes that investing in programs like this can have broader benefits for communities, including reducing youth crime.
“This is an important issue, particularly in rural and regional communities where youth crime is a growing concern,” he said.
“We see many children in the judicial system who also have very poor literacy skills.”
United Way Australia believes that a co-funding model involving contributions from local businesses, service clubs, and individuals alongside government and council support is the best path forward to ensure the program’s sustainability.
“A co-contribution model is ideal, where we get some funding from the government, some from Council, and some from the local community,” Mr Krikmann said.
“That way, it’s truly sustainable.”
“When the community enters into the equation, whether through local businesses, clubs, or even individuals, it makes a real difference in giving children a better start.”
As discussions about the program’s future continue, Mr Krikmann, Mr Dalton, and Ms Cooke encourage the community to raise awareness, advocate for funding, and contribute where possible.
Ms Cooke reinforced the urgency of securing funding to ensure the program’s survival.
“While the department may be working with United Way Australia on the program’s delivery, the NSW Government must honour its commitment to young people and deliver ongoing funding for this essential literacy initiative,” Ms Cooke said.
“I cannot overstate the importance of reading.”
“A program like this gives every child the opportunity for the best possible start in life, and we cannot afford to let it fall by the wayside," she said.
