Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Hand in hand: Building strong family partnerships
We have a Family Practice Framework that has been developed over the last five years and that gives you a set of tools that you can use to help build those relationships with families.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of building trusted partnerships with families to support their child’s education.
The conversation draws on the experiences of Ben Blowers, a Learning for Life Team Leader, who has worked directly with families on our sponsorship program over the past five years, first in Queensland and now in Tasmania.
Ben shares insights into how The Smith Family engages with parents, offering not just financial and program support, but the personal support needed to help children thrive at school.
“We have a Family Practice Framework that has been developed over the last five years and that gives you a set of tools that you can use to help build those relationships with families,” Ben says.
“This time of year, we'd be checking in with all our Year 6 students who are starting to think very deeply about Year 7 and that big transition piece that happens there. It's a time that does cause a little bit of anxiety for parents, particularly if it's the first time through.”
Conversation highlights
Ben talks to Doug about:
- [0:57] His most memorable education moment
- [2:29] The role of a Family Partnership Coordinator
- [4:48] Strengthening the practice of working with families
- [6:17] What supporting families looks like day to day
- [8:50] The key challenges families are facing right now
- [10:15] Addressing the digital divide for families
- [12:20] The life-changing impact of long-term, wraparound support
- [14:51] Misconceptions about families on low incomes
- [16:44] The highlight of his work this year and what’s to come next year
