General News
11 May, 2026
Bringing literacy to regional areas
SMALL rural schools across the district are gaining greater access to books and learning resources thanks to the long-running MARC program, a mobile library service designed to boost literacy outcomes. The MARC (Mobile Area Resource Centre) program, funded by the Department of Education, has been operating for more than 50 years and is designed to support schools with fewer than 100 students.
The program also helps ease pressure on small school staff, providing valuable planning time for classroom teachers.
“The reason for that is because the smaller schools tend to have less wiggle room within their timetables to allow the classroom teachers to have their allocated planning time,” MARC teacher Hannah Waters said.
Ms Waters is one of the MARC teachers currently delivers the service to 10 schools across the Pyrenees, including Amphitheatre, Landsborough, Natte Yallock, Waubra, Trawalla, Moonambel and Buangor Primary Schools.
The mobile service provides access to a broader range of books and educational resources, while also delivering curriculum-based lessons.
With each MARC teacher working collaboratively with schools to tailor the program to their specific needs.
“They're very much tailored towards the needs of the individual schools that they service,” said Ms Waters.
“What the academic requirements are, in terms of which areas that the curriculum need the most attention.” With a large focus on humanities and social sciences curriculum.
Beyond academic support, the program plays an important role in fostering a love of reading among students.
“In term one it’s about familiarising the students with different types of literature, the different types of books available within the borrowing library and exploring connections to different types of literature, exploring different authors,” Ms Waters said.
Ms Waters said one of the most rewarding aspects of the role was seeing students gain a passion for reading and the individuality of each school community.
“Every school is so different and they all have such amazing and committed staff in each one and each school has such a different culture of being and environment,” she said.
Read More: Amphitheatre, Landsborough, Natte Yalock, Waubra, Trawalla, Moonambel