2024–2025 Laureate: Sally Rippin

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin and grew up in South-East Asia. At twelve years old, Sally’s family settled in Melbourne, where she completed her high school years before moving to China as a young adult to study traditional Chinese painting for three years. Sally is Australia’s highest-selling female author and has written over 100 books for children and young adults. Her widely popular books are beloved across the globe and have sold more than ten million copies in eighteen countries.

Sally’s Laureate Focus: All kids can be readers!

During her two years, Sally travelled the length and breadth of the country and shared her message to a staggering 74,000 children and adults, either in person or online. She brought her very personal story to life talking about neurodiversity and how sometimes we need to think differently about how we get children reading.

“Some people may need extra support, especially if they are dyslexic, others may not be able to read traditional books if they are vision impaired. But this doesn’t mean we can’t all enjoy stories. There are so many ways we can access stories,” said Sally.

Sally’s Laureate term also reflected her passion about the importance of building a reading culture Australia, and with so much concern arising from recent research into literacy levels, this has never been more important. She highlighted a message of inclusivity and the importance of all young people being able to see themselves in stories.

“Sharing stories is how we develop empathy and begin to understand someone who might have a different life experience to ours, and I believe we need these connections now more than ever,” said Sally.

As well as sharing her mission and important message here in Australia, Sally spread her message internationally with online events alongside the Waterstones UK Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Laureate na nÓg, Ireland’s Children’s Laureate Patricia Forde and Te Awhi Rito NZ Reading Ambassador Alan Dingley, and joined other Laureates and Reading Ambassadors from around the world at the International Laureate Summit at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Find out more about Sally!