The cornerstone of reading comes to the west

The joy of reading is being shared with children thanks to a new project spearheaded by the Department of Justice.

‘The Learning Corner’ initiative is providing community centres, with bookshelves, ottomans and books to create a dedicated reading space for local families.

Metropolitan Remand Centre prisoners have been building the bookshelves, with offenders on community correction orders building the ottomans.

Department of Justice staff and local schools and libraries are donating the books.

Department of Justice community work partnership manager Stephen Cadman said the Learning Corner Project tapped into the enormous benefits reading had for children.

“Hopefully, more children in the area will be given the opportunity to embrace reading from an early age,” he said.

The first Learning Corner materials were handed over to the Maribyrnong Community Centre last week.