Why 'being there' is so important

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.