The Maurice Saxby Award recognises service to children’s and/or young adult literature by an individual, team or organisation that has displayed excellence and passion in promoting reading and/or writing for young people in NSW. The worthy recipient of the School Library Association of New South Wales Maurice Saxby Award for 2026 is Jade Arnold.
As the Program Officer for the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) Jade Arnold is committed to encouraging students across NSW to read more and develop a lifelong love of literature. In this role Jade has promoted children’s and young adult literature through innovative initiatives that engage students and educators. A key achievement has been expanding the PRCs review panel to 70 active members, increasing the number and diversity of titles reviewed annually.
She has prepared outstanding instruction lists and guidance support to make the PRC an achievable goal for any new educator from any education sector. Jade’s “Between the Bookshelves” podcast provides a valuable connection to creatives that enhance school library professionals’ ability to bring reading and books to life. This podcast responds to research indicating that students often struggle to choose books. Featuring Australian children’s and young adult authors, the podcast also includes interviews with outstanding teacher librarians who share strategies to engage reluctant readers through the PRC.
As the PRC marks its 25th anniversary, Jade is expanding the podcast offerings with a new student-focused series called “Book Bites”, which features authors reading opening chapters of PRC listed books alongside classroom ready resources. These resources encourage students to reflect on reading preferences, explore new genres, and engage in creative writing activities to nurture a love of reading and writing. To coincide with the 25th anniversary, Jade has created a suite of adaptable resources to assist schools implement effective wide reading programs. These include templates and activities that support leisure reading and can be customised to meet diverse student’s needs.
In Jade’s promotion of the importance of reading and writing through the administration of the Premier’s Reading Challenge makes her a worthy recipient of the Maurice Saxby Award and the School Library Association of NSW and its members congratulate Jade on this achievement.
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