We Will Never Give Up! The Journey of the Dyslexia Victoria Support (DVS) Year 1 Phonics Screening Check (PSC) Campaign. 🌟

Together, we’re making history for early literacy in Victoria!

As a parent advocate who has stood alongside passionate educators, I've seen firsthand how the journey towards implementing a mandatory Year 1 Phonics Screening Check (PSC) in Victorian schools has evolved from a deeply personal mission into a powerful movement.

This journey began in 2019 when a dedicated primary school teacher and active member of Dyslexia Victoria Support (DVS) approached our group with an idea to launch Legislative Council e-petition Number 336. Our simple yet critical request was clear: make a Phonics Screening Check mandatory for all Victorian Year 1 students. This petition quickly gathered support, eventually tabling in Parliament with 1915 signatures by Sonja Terpstra MP, find it here.

Our petition resonated widely, gaining backing from key literacy groups, educators, parents, allied health professionals, and literacy advocates. Organisations such as SPELD Victoria, Five from Five, Jolly Phonics, and Code Read Dyslexia Network joined us in calling for evidence-based literacy instruction.

In 2020, we celebrated the Federal Government’s decision to invest $11.8 million in a voluntary national PSC, inspired by England’s successful phonics screening model. Data from England underscored the lasting benefits of early phonics intervention, strengthening our case in Victoria.

However, in 2022, our initial victory felt bittersweet. Although the Victorian Department of Education introduced a Year 1 PSC as part of their English Online Interview (EOI), it fell short by including only 10 pseudo-words instead of the required 20. We were deeply disappointed, but we refused to lose momentum.

Our advocacy continued, reinforced by media attention from prominent publications like The Age here and EducationHQ here, along with strong support from literacy expert Professor Pamela Snow, here. Each article and public interview highlighted the urgent need for a scientifically validated phonics screening check.

A critical milestone occurred in October 2024, when the Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee released their landmark Final Report. This report strongly endorsed implementing a robust PSC, aligned with the Federal Government’s 40-word check that includes 20 pseudo-words. It set an ambitious target: 90% of Victorian students achieving expected literacy levels by the end of Year 2.

One of the most defining moments in our advocacy came when I provided evidence before this influential committee alongside Emelia Matlock from Code Read Dyslexia Network. Sharing our collective insights and experiences underscored the urgent need for systemic change.

Then, in February 2025, we achieved another breakthrough. An article in The Age confirmed the decommissioning of the ineffective English Online Interview (EOI), paving the way for a new, evidence-based phonics check. The Grattan Institute’s influential report, "The Reading Guarantee" here, validated our long-standing concerns about the EOI, reinforcing the urgent need for change.

As founder of Dyslexia Victoria Support, I emphasised the necessity of early detection and intervention:

“Families need clarity and action as early as possible so that literacy difficulties can be addressed effectively. Parents deserve to know exactly when they should seek further support or assessment for their children. We simply can’t afford to wait.”

With the mandatory introduction of a robust phonics-based check scheduled for 2025, as recently confirmed by the Education Minister, our advocacy has created lasting change. However, the journey isn’t over yet. We continue to press Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll MP for full and unequivocal implementation, ensuring no Victorian child is left behind in literacy.

Together, we’ve fought tirelessly—not just for a phonics check, but for a brighter, evidence-based future where every child can learn to read confidently and competently.

Join us as we continue advocating for early literacy success for all Victorian children.

References

Learning Difficulties Australia. (2021, December 2). Grade 1 Phonics Check Petition.
Le Nepveu, D. (2022, February 24). A phonics e-petition: Unlocking the literacy door in Victorian schools. Dyslexia Victoria Support.
Hansard. (2022, September 20). Legislative Council Hansard - Tuesday 20 September 2022.
EducationHQ. (2022, September 13). Victoria to mandate phonics screening check.
The Age. (2022, September 13). Phonics Skills Test to Be Mandated for Victorian Grade 1 Students.
EducationHQ. (2023, March 22). Backlash Over ‘Cynical’ Victorian Phonics Assessment.
The Age. (2023, August 28). The Hopeless Phonics Test Failing Victorian Students but Costing Millions.
Stobart, A. (2024, February 11). Australia Needs a National Year 1 Phonics Screening Check. Grattan Institute.
Grattan Institute. (2024, February 11). Reading Guarantee: How to ensure every Australian child can read and write well.
Parliament of Victoria. (2024, June 12). Dyslexia Victoria Support Submission.
Parliament of Victoria. (2024, June 12). Final Matlock and Gregory Submission.
Parliament of Victoria. (2024, June 12). Education Report: Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria.
The Age. (2024, June 14). Teachers Told to Ignore Victoria’s Phonics Push as Union Lashes Deputy Premier.
Parliament of Victoria. (2024, October 15). Education Report: Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria, Final Report.
ABC News. (2024, December 8). Phonics Being Introduced to Victorian Education Curriculum, Despite Pushback from Teachers Union.
The Age. (2025, February 7). ‘Not Fit for Purpose’ Reading Test Scrapped for New Phonics-Based Check.

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