This book is designed to inform national policy on literacy education in Australia. A preamble describes the general literacy crisis in Australia, which includes systematic underperformance in English literacy among some groups and many individuals (who are often seriously disadvantaged in their occupational and educational opportunities). The book notes that improvement of literacy for all Australians seeks to respond to personal, civic-cultural, and economic needs. The book includes six sections: (1) "Broad Contexts" (e.g., the powers of literacy and citizenship, social equity, and competence); (2) "What a National Policy on Literacy Should Say" (e.g., policy context, defining literacy, and teaching cycles); (3) "Australia's Learners" (e.g., Australian English speakers, language diversity, and indigenous Australians); (4) "School Literacy Education" (the early, middle, and late years); (5) "Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESL Education" (e.g., lifelong learning for all); and (6) "State and Territory Programs in Literacy" (e.g., literacy teaching and learning in various states and territories, current practices in literacy education in the Catholic sector, and current practices in literacy education in the independent schools sector). (SM)