About Us

Life, the Universe & Stories is a project of Shared Reading NSW. We are a not-for-profit organisation that was founded to harness the power of great stories for social good. We rely on the generous work of many talented and inspiring people to make our vision a reality – our trained facilitators, partner organisations, volunteers, our Board memebrs, our communities, and most importantly, our readers.

Based in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, we focus much of our work in the local community and surrounding areas but also travel across New South Wales and interstate, both in person and virtually, to work with communities and organisations around the country.

Sharing stories is in our DNA. That’s why it feels so healing. Stories help us relax, gather our thoughts and connect to something bigger than ourselves.

Our Lead Facilitators

Founder & Lead Facilitator

Shared Reading NSW

Christopher Smith

Chris is a passionate advocate for Shared Reading and its ability to change people’s lives. Chris has degrees English Literature, Psychology, Humanities and Humanistic Studies and a background in Community Development. His research on the efficacy of bibliotheraphy and the healing potential of literature led him to train in social bibliotherapy with The Reader Organisation in the UK. In his shared reading practice he has seen people transform from passive, shy, disempowered and isolated individuals into active, engaged, confident and articulate members of a community. This is what drives him to bring the power of shared reading to as many people and communities as possible.

Lead Facilitator

Shared Reading NSW

Vasant Demello

Vasant came to Shared Reading NSW in 2018. He is an experienced community service worker who has worked in a wide range of roles from early education and care to supporting the elderly. He is passionate about helping people become aware of the limitations they place on themselves so they are able to realise their full potential. He says discovering the Shared Reading experience changed his life. "It opened me to new vistas within and without. It healed my broken relationship with literature and learning and helped me re-examine how I participate in life. I then began to change for the better." Vasant has been facilitating Shared Reading groups with us ever since.

What is Bibliotherapy?

Bibliotherapy refers to he use of books or reading material as therapy. Put simply, bibliotherapy is the idea that reading is good for you. People have long used reading as a practice to increase personal wellbeing – from reading religious texts for spiritual guidance, to reading novels for pleasure or a deeper understanding of life. Today, bibliotherapy is practised widely and in many forms.

How and why does Shared Reading work?

People are social. We naturally crave connection. We rely on it for meaning and purpose. When we feel disconnected we struggle.

Social isolation is one of our societies biggest problems. If left unchecked, it removes joy from our lives and destroys health and vitality. People who are socially isolated report more mental health problems and die more prematurely than others. And the challenges of modern life make authentic connection difficult to find.

The concept of Shared Reading combines the thearpeautic benefits of reading with our essential need for connection. This form of 'social bibliotherpy' can be powerful and, for some, life changing.

People have been sharing stories since the beginning of time. It’s built into who we are. It’s how we communicate. The best stories engage us wholly. They help us think, feel and share together. They inspire us to tell our own stories. Hearing a great story and having open discussions in safe, inclusive environments allows us to cross the bridges that seperate us.

Shared Reading helps us reduce social isolation, improves our mental wellbeing, and builds stronger communtiies.

Thank you to our Partners & Supporters

Our new community groups are being generously funded by the joint Australian Government - NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSW Government.