Australian Children’s Laureate is an Australian children’s author or illustrator appointed to promote the power of reading to children. The program is managed by the Australian Children’s Literature Alliance (ACLA), which established the position in 2011. The ACLA, created in 2008, is a not-for-profit independent organization that consists of authors, booksellers, librarians, publishers, teachers, and representatives of various arts bodies.
Laureates receive a stipend (fixed allowance) and are responsible for traveling to every state and territory in Australia at least once during their terms. The first appointments were awarded jointly to Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor for the 2012-2013 term. Since that time, a single laureate has served during each term. A laureate’s term lasts for two years.
