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.
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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The Future of Volunteering: Changes and Opportunities

Volunteering sits at the heart of community… it provides an opportunity to engage with your aspiration for the future.

Mark Pearce, CEO, Volunteering Australia

Volunteering has been a thread throughout the entire history of The Smith Family. Our organisation was started by volunteers over a hundred years ago and was run by volunteers for the first 50 years of our existence.

Today, volunteers continue to play a vital role in our work, helping us provide educational support to thousands of young people experiencing disadvantage. Yet across the Australian community, volunteering rates are in decline.

In this conversation, our CEO Doug Taylor speaks with Mark Pearce, CEO of Volunteering Australia, about the changing nature of volunteering and efforts to revitalise volunteering for the future. They also talk about the profound impact of volunteering in shaping our communities.

“Volunteering sits at the heart of community… it provides an opportunity to engage with your aspiration for the future,” says Mark. “Volunteering gives you the opportunity to say, “Hey, this thing is important to me. I'm passionate about this thing, and I'm going to put my hand up and I'm going to do something about it.”

Conversation highlights

Mark talks to Doug about:

• [0:53] His most memorable education moment
• [2:50] The place of volunteering in our nation
• [5:17] The role of volunteering in his own life
• [8:47] Key aims of the National Strategy for Volunteering
• [11:40] Efforts to revitalise volunteering in Australia
• [15:51] What gives him hope for the future of volunteering

Watch the full conversation below or listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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