Small steps. Big change.
This week, from 20 – 26 October 2025, we celebrate 26Ten Week across Tasmania.
Through my role on the 26TEN Coalition, I’ve heard many stories about individuals and businesses who have built their reading, writing and numeracy skills for positive life-changing outcomes. Think parents who can now read stories to their children at bedtime. Think the 50-year-old who gets a promotion because they can now, finally, undertake the same reading and writing tasks as their colleagues.
Totally inspiring!
Why This Week Matters
This year’s theme – “Every Step Forward Counts” – is a powerful reminder that progress doesn’t always come in leaps and bounds. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, steady steps that create the most lasting change.
When people learn, they grow. And when workplaces support that learning, everyone benefits – communication improves, teams collaborate more effectively, and people feel seen and capable.
But this week isn’t just about literacy and numeracy. It’s also about recognising that every act of learning counts – whether it’s:
- Trying something new, even when it feels uncomfortable
- Asking for help or offering it to someone else
- Taking time to practise a skill you’ve avoided
- Choosing progress over perfection
Each small step rewires the brain. Neuroscience shows that when we celebrate progress – even the tiniest one – our brains release dopamine, the “feel good” chemical that boosts motivation and resilience. Over time, these moments of reinforcement strengthen the neural pathways that keep us learning and growing.
A Thought to Sit With
What’s one small step you’ve taken lately that deserves a quiet moment of recognition?
Sometimes, progress looks like completing a big project.
Other times, it’s simply asking a question, reading one page, or showing up when it feels hard.
This Week’s Gentle Shift
Each day this week, notice one small step – yours or someone else’s – and name it.
Write it down. Say it out loud. Celebrate it.
Because every step forward truly counts.