NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is not a competition but a challenge for each student to read, read more, and read more widely. The program involves over 430,000 students and more than 2,600 government, non-government and home schools. The PRC booklists open doors to a rich collection of children’s literature representing a range of books, including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, poetry and drama, and a wide variety of Australian authors.
2025 dates
- Opening date for student entries–Monday 24 February 2025
- Closing date for student entries–Friday 22 August 2025
- Closing date for coordinator validations–Friday 5 September 2025
Dance of the Jellyfish – PRC theme music
Artist, author and composer Matt Ottley, who created the artwork for the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) poster, also composed a piece of music titled Dance of the Jellyfish to accompany this artwork. This piece of music was performed and recorded by students who are part of various Arts Unit music ensembles.
This composition is part of Matt Ottley’s The Sound of Picture Books initiative, which is designed to allow audiences to experience literature, art and music linked in a multi-modal manner.
Dance of the Jellyfish (MP3 12.93 MB)© State of NSW (Department of Education) 2025. The Department acknowledges the composer, Matt Ottley. For any questions relating to use of this sound-recording, please contact the Department’s Arts Unit at first instance.
Matt Ottley has generously provided detailed resource notes that unpacks the artwork and the music. To learn more about Matt Ottley’s work, be sure to check out Episode 2 of the PRC podcast, Between the bookshelves, which is scheduled to release on 7 March 2025.
Dance of the Jellyfish composer notes.pdf (PDF 389.86 KB)Between the bookshelves – podcast
The 2025 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge is proudly supported by Digital Partner, ePlatform and Supporter, Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA).
All Arts Unit programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge, please email [email protected] so that we can assist.
