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.
Login
Child Sponsorship
Donate now

Donate now

Over 44,500 Australians Supported with Mobile Internet Access and $30M of Value Delivered through Donate Your Data Program

Media releases

19 October 2023

37,500 students and families received mobile internet access via The Smith Family partnership
Over 55 million gigabytes donated since program commenced
Donating data is an innovative way to support Australians in need

One in five respondents (21.6%) think that their children will miss out on the internet access needed for schoolwork this year, according to a recent survey by The Smith Family of parents and carers of students participating in its Learning for Life education support program.

To help address the problem of internet access, Optus created the innovative Donate Your Data program in 2019, in collaboration with The Smith Family. Since its inception, the partnership has provided 37,500 students and their family members with free SIM cards loaded with calls, texts and data, which has supported children with online learning and education. The unique program has expanded to include additional charities, and to date, over 44,500 people in total have received support with free calls, texts and data. This equates to $30M of equivalent value delivered across the life of the program.

Optus customers can donate their unused data as part of the Living Network’s Donate Your Data program. Generous Optus customers have donated over 55 million gigabytes of data since 2019, which has equated to more than 6 million donations since launch. The program is a quick and simple way for Australians to donate, especially if they don’t have the time to volunteer or resources to give financially.

Eva and her family have taken part in the Donate Your Data program through The Smith Family.

Eva said, “Without the help, it would have been more stressful. As a mother raising my four children single-handedly, it would have created some considerable strain on me in regards to my finances.

"Jemimah (my daughter) wants to be an architect. She has a clear view of what she wants to become. The free data from Optus has helped Jemimah study.”

Jemimah said, "I really want to thank Optus and their customers for their support because it has made a very big difference in my family's life.

"I cannot imagine not having internet because it connects us. This is how we live now."

Optus Managing Director, Matt Williams, said, “We know that being digitally connected and digitally skilled is critical for education, business success and staying connected to friends and family. We are dedicated to supporting the next generation in achieving their potential in this digital era and are proud that the Donate Your Data program is making an impact four years on.

“It’s always so lovely to hear stories like Eva and Jemimah’s, and to know that the Living Network’s Donate Your Data program is making a difference for families across the country.”

The Smith Family Head of Policy, Programs and Strategy, Wendy Field, said, “Many of the families we work with don’t have reliable, consistent access to the internet, but the internet is now essential for learning. If students don’t have all the tools they need, they can fall behind in their education, and it’s of major concern they won’t develop the digital skills needed for the jobs of the future.

“Working with and through partners like Optus and generous individuals is key as we work to get all students participating in our Learning for Life program online by 2027.”
Optus customers can learn more about donating their unused data by going to www.optus.com.au/living-network/donate-your-data.

- ENDS -

For further information, please contact:
Optus: Nicole Higgins, 0402 278 934, nicole.higgins@optus.com.au
The Smith Family: Sophie Eaton, 0447 571 397, sophie.eaton@thesmithfamily.com.au

About Optus
Optus is a leading Australian technology and telecommunications company. We provide customers with more than 11 million services each day. With more than 7000 employees across Australia, Optus delivers a comprehensive range of telecommunications products including: mobile and fixed line telephony; fixed and mobile broadband services; multimedia entertainment and technology services; satellite services; and converged business telco applications and solutions.

About The Smith Family
The Smith Family is a children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power of education. It works with more than 760 Australian schools to support 60,000 students experiencing disadvantage through its Learning for Life education support program. For more, visit thesmithfamily.com.au

Media contacts:

Andrew Dickson | National Media Manager (National) - 0421 285 529 | andrew.dickson@thesmithfamily.com.au
Carla Horton | Senior Media Advisor (QLD & WA) - 0423 618 776 | carla.horton@thesmithfamily.com.au
Reid Jermyn | Media Advisor (VIC, SA & NT) - 0412 803 566 | reid.jermyn@thesmithfamily.com.au
Ben Chenoweth | Senior Media Advisor (NSW, ACT & TAS) - 0413 346 934 | ben.chenoweth@thesmithfamily.com.au

The Smith Family is a national children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power of education. We partner with around 800 Australian schools and work with over 162,000 children and young people experiencing disadvantage access our education support programs to help them overcome . For more information, visit thesmithfamily.com.au