There are still 4,532 Australian children who need extra learning support by 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.
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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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Partnership Profile

Curtin University support Learning Clubs in Gosnells, WA

Coming to the Learning Club has really helped me to work hard in studies, to make more friends, to do better at school.

- Southern River College Learning Club participant, 2015

In partnership with Curtin University and Southern River College in Gosnells, Western Australia we’ve been proud to be part of a new Learning Club supporting secondary students in Years 7-9. The after-school homework club began in late 2012 to support Year 8 students with an interest and aptitude for maths, engineering and science, and has since grown to support students across the early secondary school years.

Projects for each term are developed in collaboration with the University and adapt each year to ensure that returning students are introduced to new scientific concepts and ideas. Over the three year partnership, students have participated in projects about bridge-building, rocks and minerals, a mining project and Lego robotics.

An added benefit of the program is students’ interaction with university students, who volunteer as tutors through the program.

Formal evaluation of the three-year project is pending. However, preliminary evaluation demonstrates the success the program is having on increasing school engagement and developing students’ self-confidence and social skills outside the classroom. One parent commented of her son:

[He’s] really enjoyed robotics and finds the challenges involved has made him really happier and looks forward to extend his knowledge. […] The challenge that the club offers has made [my son] more resourceful in conquering any problems.

The Smith Family delivers primary and secondary school Learning Clubs through similar partnerships across Australia. We know that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to have the resources available to them to succeed at school. As reported in an earlier edition of Partnerships Matter, our Learning Clubs provide students with access to resources and expertise in a safe, after-school learning environment. The social interactions that students have throughout the program also enable them to better engage at school and develop their confidence and sense of belonging.