Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Gift in Will: support children in need beyond your lifetime
The reality of poverty in Australia
I feel so lonely at school. I feel like I can’t keep up. All the kids know I’m poor.
638,000 children are living in jobless families
For children like Jenny* , disadvantage at home leads to difficulties at school. They start their education without the early literacy and numeracy skills of their classmates. They are behind before they even begin. Since 1922, The Smith Family has been dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged Australian children. In the last 30 years we’ve focused on educational programs to help children make the most of their school years.
Research proves that supporting a disadvantaged child’s education is a powerful way to make lasting change. Last year we supported more than 124,000 Australian children in need and their families through our programs. Sadly, for every child we can help, there are thousands more who need our help.
A family commitment
Geoff and Julie Winders speak about their parents’ legacy
“Our mum, Joan (pictured above with our dad John), trained as a nurse at RPA (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney) and spent much of her working life in the palliative care ward at Greenwich Hospital. She met dad, John, on a boat to Australia in 1951 when he was emigrating as a ‘10 pound Pom’. Dad worked as an engineer and always felt that Australia provided him and his family, with so many opportunities. Mum and dad decided early on that they would like to make an ongoing contribution to The Smith Family.
When mum and dad told us, about 10 years ago, that they were including The Smith Family in their Will, it wasn’t a shock at all. It actually felt good to know that they were A family commitment Geoff and Julie Winders speak about their parents’ legacy backing up their passion for helping others. They had been donating to The Smith Family for as long as we could remember and it seemed like a natural progression of their giving.
It’s wonderful to think that their gift is now helping so many deserving students to get the most out of their education.
Whether it’s helping to pay for school outings or text books, football boots or even school uniforms, it’s so good for us to know that mum and dad’s legacy is living on and they are continuing to provide disadvantaged Australian children with the opportunities they need to help them thrive at school and into the future.
In fact, knowing that mum and dad had left a gift in their Will to charity has been a really good lesson for our families and we have decided that we would like to do the same.”
A gift for the future
The Smith Family is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for disadvantaged children and helping them onto the path of achievement. Through our Learning for Life programs we provide educational support to the children who need it most. Children like Jenny have proven that with extra reading support, homework help and a guiding hand, they can thrive. That’s what Learning for Life provides. But you can also help. Please give disadvantaged Australian students the out-of-school support they need to make the most of their education.
Today, you can change their future.
To learn more about The Smith Family, or to order your gifts in Wills Planning Pack, please contact us now.
Contact us
Jenny’s confidence is growing each day. Her future is changing with every week she spends doing Learning for Life.
The difference you can make
Year after year we see our learning support programs change lives, helping young Australians to break the cycle of disadvantage. Your legacy will ensure that future generations of Australian children have access to the support they need to get the most out of their education.
Whether this means staying in school until Year 12, taking up an apprenticeship, attending TAFE or university, you’re helping young Australians to make the most of their education – so they can create a better economic future for themselves and their families.
You’re not just helping one child today, you’re joining with The Smith Family and other like-minded individuals to make a difference to a whole generation of Australian children.
Life changing-learning
"When I first met Jenny, she was eight years old, it was clear she was desperate to learn. She wanted to answer the questions her teacher asked her. She wanted to fit in.
The problem was simple: she couldn’t.
In class, she couldn’t read very well and often she wasn’t even sure if she understood what she was supposed to do. She’d just sit in class silently, trying to avoid being asked questions. Jenny built a wall around herself, retreating from classmates and falling further and further behind at school.
Jenny built a wall around herself, retreating from classmates and falling further and further behind at school.
Unfortunately, Jenny’s story isn’t unique.
When Jenny started in our Learning for Life program, I was able to give Jenny and her family the extra support they needed. She was dedicated and keen.
With each hurdle she overcame, her confidence grew, and now, she may not be top of the class, but she’s right up there – answering questions and feeling confident in her abilities. This is where real change begins.
I see her beginning to enjoy school and I know she will reach her full potential.”
With each hurdle she overcame, her confidence grew, and now, she may not be top of the class, but she’s right up there – answering questions and feeling confident in her abilities. This is where real change begins.
I see her beginning to enjoy school and I know she will reach her full potential.”
Giving the next generation a go
“I’m a school teacher and I’ve worked with children from all kinds of backgrounds. When I became a teacher at our local school I started to become aware of the need for further help in education for disadvantaged students. The need for focused attention is especially evident when you have children who’ve had setbacks and struggles in their life – whether through immigration or growing up in poor families. These kids don’t have the confidence in their own abilities, that they’re in the right place and that people will help them. Coming from behind, feeling different and out of place – to feeling empowered, is a very difficult leap to make."
"I’m completely confident in The Smith Family’s commitment to education. We’ve had experience with lots of charities, and we really feel the money is well accounted for and will be well spent with The Smith Family – they’re a really efficient organisation. School is where children can build their future. We want to give the next generation a go. We want to help the ones who just don’t have the economic and social support to cope with the demands of education on their own.”
Education has enabled us to emigrate (twice) and to create successful lives in different countries. We want that for all Australian kids. That’s why Rod and I have left a gift in our Will for The Smith Family.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gift in Wills
How to leave a gift in your Will
Step 1. Speak to your family and loved ones
This is a personal decision for you to make, but we recommend letting your family know that you are planning to leave a gift to The Smith Family so they are aware of your decision.
Step 2. Decide what kind of gift to leave
There are three main ways to leave a gift in your Will to The Smith Family.
Residual
You can make a gift of the remainder, or a percentage of the remainder, of your estate once your loved ones and expenses have been taken care of.
Specific
You can make a specific bequest by simply stating the dollar amount in your Will that you wish to leave to The Smith Family.
Asset
You may wish to make a gift of a specific asset, for example real estate, shares or bonds, or an item of particular value.
Step 3. Get the help of a professional solicitor
The Smith Family recommend that you consult a solicitor before writing, or updating your Will.
Step 4. Making your Will
To include your chosen gift to The Smith Family when you write your Will, provide your solicitor with the following wording:
“I ..................bequeath to The Smith Family ABN 28 000 030 179 (insert the percentage or residue of your client’s estate, the amount of money, or the details of assets your client wishes to leave). My bequest is to be used for the general purposes of The Smith Family. I declare that the receipt of the Secretary or other proper officer shall be a complete discharge of my bequest.”
