Through the challenge children and students are given an opportunity to develop their appreciation of the English language and additional languages, and are encouraged to explore and enjoy a wide range of literary texts.
Children and students can participate in the challenge within their school, early childhood centre or as individual readers (home-educated students, students whose schools are not participating in the program or children who are not enrolled in an early childhood centre).
Children and students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement. Early childhood centres will also receive a centre-wide certificate of recognition for their involvement.
Schools, early childhood centres and parents of individual readers are encouraged to recognise reading achievements by holding classroom, school or home ceremonies to present certificates during the Premier's Reading Challenge celebrations weeks.
School and individual readers (Prep to Year 9)
For a student to successfully complete the Premier's Reading Challenge they are required to read or experience the number of books indicated below:
- Prep to Year 2—read or experience 20 books.
- Years 3 to 4—read 20 books.
- Years 5 to 9—read 15 books.
Experiencing a book includes classroom or at home activities such as shared reading, listening and reading along with a book, or being read to.
The requirement for Year 5 through to Year 9 students to read 15 books rather than 20 books acknowledges that older students are likely to select longer, more complex books that may take them longer to read.
Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability. While there is no compulsory reading list for the challenge,
book lists are available to help students, teachers, parents and guardians select appropriate reading material.
Early childhood centres and individual readers
Early childhood centres and individual home readers participate in an abridged version of the challenge by tallying the total number of book experiences or literary activities over a 1-week period.