The National Year of Reading 2012 has kicked off with organisers encouraging individuals, groups and families to take part in the program.
For a number of individuals reading is a relaxing and enjoyable way to pass time, as well as learn something new about the world around them.
But, as with so many things in life, activities that can appear simple may also present enormous challenges for some individuals.
Love 2 Read (L2R), a not-for-profit with a passion for the written word, has revealed that almost half the Australian population has difficulty meeting the language-based demands of daily life.
"There are 46 per cent of Australians who can't read newspapers; follow recipes; make sense of timetables, or understand the instructions on a medicine bottle," L2R wrote on the organisation's website.
In a bid to improve these statistics and inspire young people to dust off their library cards and start reading, a variety of high-profile individuals and organisations from across the nation are doing their bit to turn this year into the National Year of Reading 2012 (NYR2012).
Love 2 Read will host ongoing festivals, competitions and workshops around the country and online to promote the joys of reading.
Organisers are also hoping that children and keen readers will benefit by taking part in the program, which caters to people of all levels.
They have also managed to recruit a who's who list of Australian writers and public figures to lend their name and support to the campaign.
Anna Bligh, premier of Queensland and NYR2012 ambassador, said getting involved in the literacy project would send a positive message to young people.
"I'm delighted to be an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading and I look forward to supporting the campaign in 2012," she said.
Ms Bligh also suggested that by improving their reading, writing, grammar and comprehension – which are all things you can learn while turning the pages of a good book – today's students will gain a lifelong skill.
"I love reading … it can take you anywhere you want to go," she asserted.
The NYR2012 is being run by local libraries and library associations in partnership with media identities, famous writers, major publishing houses, leading booksellers, as well as
professionals from a range of different sectors and government bodies.
For those who would like to take part in the reading initiative and promote a positive reading culture in their own home, it is easy to find more information about NYR2012 on their official website.