‘Read Along Dads’ provides the children of men in Loddon Prison and Middleton with a recording of their dad reading them a book.
Both the recording and a copy of the book itself are sent to the child who can listen to their parent's voice while reading or looking at their book.
The program began as a one-off to celebrate the International Year of Reading in 2012, but was so well received by the prison, the dads, and especially the kids, that it's been going ever since.
‘Read Along Dads’ was launched by Friends of Castlemaine Library (FOCAL) as one of several literacy programs for the local community and was funded through grants from the Victorian Legal Services Board.
In 2023, auspicing of the program was transferred to Castlemaine Rotary.
The first half of 2024 has seen 20 men in custody from Middleton participate in the program reading a total of 100 books whilst Loddon has seen 22 men participate with 83 books read.
Some of the feedback received from the men who are or have participated in the program:
‘I had no idea you could read to a baby. I thought you did the reading when they were at school. I felt good explaining this stuff to my partner. And our little boy loves the books so much.’
‘My little daughter gets so happy when the book arrives. She says dada dada.’
‘It’s been great for my mental health knowing that I’m contributing to my family and the growth of my daughter.’
‘After seven years in here and not having even met my brother’s kids, me sending books and recordings to them over this last 12 months means I have a family to go home to. It’s meant a lot to my brother that I made contact in this way. It would be hard for us to connect again when I get home next week if I hadn’t done this. I really appreciate it. … Did I tell you my sister-in-law joined the girls to the library because they’ve enjoyed the books I sent so much?’
‘It gives us a stronger connection with our kids, and they get used to the sound of our voice.’
‘My kids have learnt to read better and are doing better at school.’
‘The best part is my kids know I still care and think of them.’
‘The school told my mum that my two boys are both in the top twenty-percent of their classes for reading. Like that feels really good, you know? Playing a big part in the change. We’ve never been readers, my family, and the kids having new books and reading along with my recordings over the last year or so, I reckon it’s changed things. And it gives us something to talk about when we catch up on the phone. On the last call one of my boys was reading out to me bits of the book he thought was really funny. Like it’s good to share that stuff.’
‘My partner says our three-year-old listens to me reading the dinosaur book every night in bed then keeps the book in bed with him. He takes the book everywhere.’