Help provide vital educational support to 11,705 Australian children this Christmas.

Our Programs
- Literacy programs
  Providing resources and support to help children living with disadvantage achieve the required reading standard.
- Technology programs
  Providing children and young people living with disadvantage with the critical skills, access, and equipment they need.
- Numeracy programs
  We support early years educators and community professionals in building foundational math skills in children under their care.
- Learning for Life
  Providing holistic, long-term support for disadvantaged young Australians throughout their education.
- Mentoring programs
  Mentoring programs for students living with disadvantage that provide the encouragement they need to build aspirations for their future.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs
  Our work engages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in learning through education, life skills and role models, promoting culturally responsive practice.
Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs
Get Involved
- Ways to fundraise
  Learn about fundraising and give back to the community with The Smith Family.
- Volunteer with us
  Share your skills to help Australian children in need transform their lives through education.
- Partnerships
  Learn how your organisation can partner with The Smith Family and help build a better future for Australian children in need.
- Careers
  We aim to provide a working environment where staff and volunteers have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
- Events
  Participate in events and activities that support young Australians experiencing disadvantage.
- VIEW clubs of Australia
  Learn about VIEW, a leading women’s volunteer organisation and support network with over 16,000 members, across Australia.
Ways to Give
- Sponsor a child
  Through child sponsorship, you will be matched to an Australian child in need, helping to support the cost of their school essentials.
- A gift in your will
  Ensure that future generations of Australian children have the support they need to make the most of their education.
- Monthly donation
  Become a monthly donor and provide continual support throughout all stages of a child’s education.
- Philanthropic giving
  Through your philanthropy, you can ensure that young Australians impacted by poverty get the education that all children deserve.
- Single donation
  Your donation will help young Australians in need by providing access to our Learning for Life education support programs.
- Workplace giving
  Making small, regular donations to The Smith Family through Workplace Giving is an easy way to help change the lives of young Australians living in poverty.
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Girls at the Centre

Our actions count

The Smith Family creates opportunities for young Australians in need by providing long-term support for their participation in education.

In the last year our work supported over 199,680 children, young people, parents, carers and community professionals across 91 communities throughout regional and metropolitan Australia.

Around 15,020 of the young people we support are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

five young women holding up indigenous illustrations or artworks

Watch Girls at the Centre program

Girls at the Centre is an aspirational program located at Mount Austin High School, Wagga Wagga, NSW and Bairnsdale High School, Victoria. The program is a multi-faceted program providing intensive and holistic support aimed at strengthening social, emotional, culture knowledge and academic aspirations for participating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in Year 7-12

Making crucial steps towards addressing educational inequality in Australia

In 2021, 58% of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 20 to 24 years and who are living in the most disadvantaged communities had attained Year 12 or equivalent, compared to 87% of those living in Australia’s most advantaged communities. This disparity highlights the relationship between poverty and advantage for First Nations people. - Productivity Commission 2023, Closing the Gap Repository.

We measure our outcomes

An independent evaluation² of the Girls at the Centre program showed how highly valued the program was by the girls, school staff and their families. It showed positive development for the girls’ life goals and skills and it significantly improved their school attendance rates. The program also strengthened family and community engagement with the school.

Since 2016 Girls at the Centre has been operating in Bairnsdale and Wagga Wagga. Already the program is having a positive impact. School staff report improved school attendance rates for girls on the program, greater engagement in learning and improved attitudes and behaviours.

It’s an evidence-based approach

The Girls at the Centre has been in two communities for more than 5 years. Through the program, we have been able to build strong and lasting relationships with community organisations, and community Elders and leaders who have assisted in enabling our students to grow skills and look at different possible futures.

Some outcomes include significant improvement in attendance, greater engagement with their learning and completion of Year 12. The program has provided the girls with opportunities to participate in health and wellbeing activities and includes a cultural learning component.

2023 has seen increases in the student’s participation in the programs that support their career pathways. Anecdotally, teaching staff have noticed an increase in attendance, greater engagement in the classroom and improved behaviour, attitude, and motivation.

four young women sitting together having a chat

I don't think I would be achieving half the stuff I've achieved without girls at the center. If I need someone to chat to I can always chat to my mentor... and really push myself out there to be the best person I can be.

Shakur - Girls at the Centre participant

If you're feeling a bit down you can go there and they'll just cheer you up... they're sort of like your big sisters basically, they just help you through everything and they're always there supporting you.

Amelia - Girls at the Centre participant

Download our Research Report and read how Girls at the Centre improves the educational outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.

Research report

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs

¹ ABS. 2016. 2016 Community Profiles, Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Profile, Table I06.

² Lea T & Driscoll C (2012) Evaluation of the ‘Girls at the Centre’ program, Alice Springs, University of Sydney.

³ Karmet T et al (2014) Improving labour market outcomes through education and training, Issues Paper no 9, Australian Government.