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.
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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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Child Sponsorship
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Why 'being there' is so important

Learning for Life staff

22 February 2022

I want to be someone who children and families see as solid. Someone who will be by their side for years.

When I started at The Smith Family in 2019, I felt I’d landed my dream job. I still do. Not only do I enjoy my work, but I feel like I’m making a difference.

Working out of the Wynyard office in north-west Tasmania, I look after the Burnie community. We currently have a caseload of 600 kids, and that’s growing quickly, which is exciting.

As a Learning for Life Coordinator, my job is to support children and families to become more independent. We have high levels of disengagement and poor attendance at school in this area. But it doesn’t take a lot to uncover what a child’s barriers are and switch their educational engagement back on.

I feel like I’m able to relate to a lot of the challenges that the families I work with face.

I’m a mum with three kids and my journey has brought me to where I can chat to other mums from that point of view. I know what it’s like if a child doesn’t want to go to school or is overwhelmed.

It’s that personal connection people seem to appreciate the most. Often families don’t want answers, they just want someone to hear them.

Sometimes the most powerful thing I can do is say, ‘I’m here. You’ve got my attention. What do you need?’

When people appreciate what we do, it’s a lovely feeling.

I would like our supporters to know that their sponsorship has far-reaching and long-lasting repercussions for families, the effect of which cascades through their school, home, relationships, work and community; impacting everyone and the next generation to come.