Reading Writing Hotline

What Reading Writing Hotline does

Reading Writing Hotline is a non-profit national telephone referral service established in 1994 that connects Australian adults with low literacy and numeracy to local courses, volunteer tutors, and paid tutors. It is funded entirely by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and hosted by TAFE NSW at its Ultimo Campus in Sydney, with a small staff of 5 employees. Callers access the service through a free national phone line (1300 6 555 06), the website at readingwritinghotline.edu.au, or email enquiries, and the Hotline handles approximately 4,000 calls per year across all Australian states and territories.

The Hotline's core operational asset is a national database of over 1,800 provider contacts covering adult literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, ESL, and workplace language training. Beyond referrals, the organisation produces a portfolio of educational resources: learner workbooks (Books and Babies, Books and Bubs, Books Babies and Dads), an 8-module Volunteer Tutor Training Program, Adult Numeracy Teacher Training videos developed with UTS, the Reader Friendly Communication plain-language guide, industry-specific workplace resources (childcare, mining, maritime), First Nations culturally appropriate resources, and research publications including the Literacy Links newsletter. The Hotline is governed by a national steering committee with representatives from TAFEs across all states and territories, ACAL, Adult Learning Australia, Community Colleges Australia, and state literacy councils.

The business model is structurally a government grant: the Hotline charges no fees to callers and does not generate commercial revenue. Distribution relies on radio advertising featuring an iconic jingle (inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia 2026 collection), event participation (Adult Learners Week, International Literacy Day, ACAL and VALBEC conferences), and partnerships with TAFEs, libraries, community colleges, and literacy organisations. The customer base is highly distributed across five personas: adult learners, employers, First Nations peoples, volunteer tutors, and community workers, with no individual customer or contract representing material revenue concentration in commercial terms — but with total dependence on a single government funder.

Name

Reading Writing Hotline

Legal name

Reading Writing Hotline

Website

https://readingwritinghotline.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reading Writing Hotline is Australia's national telephone referral service connecting adults with low literacy and numeracy to local courses, volunteer tutors, and training providers. Established in 1994, the government-funded non-profit serves adult learners, employers, and community workers across all states and territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Literacy and Numeracy Referral Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & Reading Intervention (Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension) (EDAKADAA), Digital Reading Content & eBooks (Leveled Readers, Libraries) (EDAFACAH), Reading & Literacy Centers (Phonics, Comprehension, Writing) (EDANAHAD)

Keywords

• Adult literacy referral
• Numeracy support services
• Workplace literacy training
• Volunteer tutor programs
• First nations literacy resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney (Ultimo)

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Reading Writing Hotline is entirely funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. It is a free service for all callers and does not generate revenue from users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Reading Writing Hotline operates Australia's national free telephone referral service (1300 6 555 06) for adult literacy and numeracy. Adult literacy teachers answer calls and connect adults seeking to improve their reading, writing, spelling, or basic maths with appropriate local courses, volunteer tutors, or paid tutors drawn from a national database of over 1,800 provider contacts. The Hotline also produces and distributes free educational resources including learner workbooks, tutor training programs, plain language guides, workplace literacy materials, and First Nations culturally appropriate resources.

Product overview

Reading Writing Hotline operates as a national telephone referral service (1300 6 555 06) for adult literacy and numeracy, established in 1994 and funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The service connects callers with local literacy classes, volunteer tutors, and training providers across Australia. The portfolio includes: the core Hotline referral service, learner workbooks (Books and Babies, Books and Bubs, Family), an 8-module Volunteer Tutor Training Program, Adult Numeracy Teacher Training videos, the Reader Friendly Communication Guide, and various Hotline Publications (research reports). For employers, Workplace Literacy Services provide access to a national provider database and industry-specific resources like Working Well in Childcare and Mining Mob. Specialized First Nations People Resources include culturally appropriate workbooks, easy books, and language resources. The Literacy Links newsletter disseminates sector updates monthly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reading Writing Hotline National Referral Service Australia's free national telephone referral service for adult literacy and numeracy. Adult literacy teachers answer calls on 1300 6 555 06 and connect adult learners with appropriate local courses, volunteer tutors, or paid tutors from a national database of over 1,800 provider contacts. Also accepts enquiries via the website and email.
• Learner Resources Workbooks Free downloadable workbooks and infosheets for adult learners covering reading, spelling, handwriting, computer classes, workplace writing, and family literacy topics such as Books and Babies, Books and Bubs, Books Babies and Dads, and Family.
• Tutor Workbooks Beginner workbooks designed for adult learners unable to access courses who want to learn from home, including Books and Babies, Books and Bubs, and Books Babies and Dads, with accompanying YouTube videos.
• Volunteer Tutor Training Program Self-paced 8-module online learning program guided by literacy expert Pam Osmond, training people to support adults in improving their literacy and numeracy skills. Free for anyone to use and available in individual and library/community group versions.
• Adult Numeracy Teacher Training Video series developed in collaboration with Dr Keiko Yasukawa from UTS, covering adult learning principles in numeracy context and seven activity-based videos on different numeracy areas.
• Reader Friendly Communication Guide A guide to using plain language with practical strategies for making communications more accessible, available as an online guide and downloadable PDF.
• Hotline Publications and Research Reports Research reports and publications including Engaging Adult Literacy Learners Literature Review, Uncovering Adult Literacy and Numeracy Needs in Australia, Literacy Face to Face handbook for volunteer tutors, and Helping Clients Fill in Forms Report.
• Workplace Literacy Services Service helping employers find literacy and communication training geared to business needs, providing access to a national database of providers and information about funding sources for workplace language, literacy and numeracy training.
• Industry-Specific Workplace Literacy Resources Workplace literacy resources tailored to specific industries including Working Well in Childcare, Trash Talk (waste management), Working with the Mining Mob, Indigenous Hospitality Resources, and BoatNotes for maritime training.
• First Nations People Literacy Resources Specialized culturally appropriate resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples including workbooks, easy books, books to see hear and read, longer reads, vocational training materials, and First Nations languages resources developed with First Languages Australia and Batchelor Institute Press.
• Literacy Links Newsletter Monthly e-newsletter providing updates on literacy, numeracy and digital learning developments across Australia, featuring sector news, resources, and professional development opportunities, with contributions from 26Ten and other sector partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 calls per year from adult learners, employers, and community workers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TAFE NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAFE NSW hosts the Reading Writing Hotline at its Ultimo Campus in Sydney. TAFE NSW is the primary institutional partner providing operational infrastructure and support for the hotline's national operations.
• Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACAL is the national peak body for adult literacy and numeracy and is represented on the hotline's national steering committee. ACAL collaborates with the hotline on research, advocacy, and professional development initiatives.
• 26Ten (Tasmania)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner26Ten is Tasmania's adult literacy and numeracy network. The hotline works with 26Ten and features their resources and case studies. 26Ten also contributes content to the hotline's Literacy Links newsletter.
• Adult Learning Australia (ALA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALA is a national peak body that collaborates with the hotline on adult literacy and numeracy advocacy, professional development, and awareness campaigns including webinars and the Declaration statement for literacy and numeracy for all adult Australians.
• First Languages AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Reading Writing Hotline partnered with First Languages Australia to celebrate NAIDOC Week and launch resources supporting the learning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
• TAFE NSW, TASTAFE, TAFE SA, TAFE QLD, TAFE NSW, North Metropolitan TAFEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious TAFE institutions across Australian states and territories are represented on the hotline's national steering committee and serve as major adult literacy and numeracy training providers in their respective regions.
• Community Colleges Australia (CCA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Colleges Australia represents adult and community education providers and is represented on the hotline's steering committee.
• Batchelor Press / Batchelor InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBatchelor Press publishes a range of Indigenous stories and literacy and numeracy teaching resources that are featured on the hotline's website and recommended to learners and tutors.
• BBC SkillswiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC Skillswise provides English and Maths worksheets for adults that are linked from the hotline's learner and tutor resources pages.
• The Smith Family - Home Tutor SchememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe hotline recommends the Smith Family's Home Tutor Scheme resources, which include tutor information, lesson plans and resources developed for migrants and refugees.
• Service Skills AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService Skills Australia developed 'Grassroots Strategies' - tips for teaching reading, writing, numeracy and speaking/listening in workplace contexts - which the hotline features on its resources page.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TAFE NSW: Primary institutional partner that hosts the Hotline at its Ultimo Campus and is a major adult literacy and numeracy training provider in NSW. Closely comparable in mission to deliver adult literacy and numeracy training, though at vastly larger scale and as a direct trainer rather than a referral service.
• National Literacy Trust: Major UK-based independent literacy charity working to improve literacy across all ages, including adults. Comparable to the Hotline in its national advocacy and awareness role, but operates on a much larger scale and broader age remit.
• ProLiteracy: US-based nonprofit supporting adult literacy programmes through advocacy, professional development, and a national network of providers. Closely comparable to the Hotline in coordinating a national adult literacy provider network and producing training resources.

Direct peers

• Smith Family Home Tutor Scheme: Australian nonprofit programme providing volunteer tutors and resources for adult migrants and refugees with low literacy. Comparable to the Hotline in its volunteer-tutor and literacy-resource focus, and is formally linked from the Hotline's resources pages.
• Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL): Australia's national peak body for adult literacy and numeracy, represented on the Hotline's steering committee. Operates in the same adult literacy research, advocacy, and professional development space.
• Adult Learning Australia (ALA): National peak body for adult and community education in Australia, collaborating with the Hotline on advocacy, professional development, and adult literacy campaigns. Highly comparable national-coverage role in the same adult literacy ecosystem.
• Literacy Aotearoa: New Zealand's national adult literacy organisation delivering tuition, tutor training, and resources nationwide. Comparable to the Hotline in mission, adult literacy focus, and national coordination role, though it delivers direct tuition in addition to referrals.
• National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA): Ireland's national adult literacy agency providing referrals, tutor training, and resources to adult learners. Closely comparable mission and service mix to the Reading Writing Hotline, including a national telephone and online referral function.
• Community Colleges Australia: Australian peak body representing adult and community education providers, represented on the Hotline's steering committee. Highly comparable role in organising and advocating for the adult and community education sector that the Hotline refers into.

Regional players

• 26Ten: Tasmania's adult literacy and numeracy network and steering-committee partner of the Reading Writing Hotline. Operates a state-level adult literacy strategy and provider network directly comparable to the Hotline's role, though geographically limited to Tasmania.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reading-writing-hotline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reading Writing Hotline