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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How Marion is empowering students

Learning for Life staff

01 September 2018

Nothing makes Marion prouder than watching the students she has supported for years collect their graduation certificates. As one of our Learning for Life Coordinators, Marion has spent 10 years delivering the support that you help make possible. And she loves empowering students to accomplish more.

"You see some of these families in such crisis and you just think, ‘How on earth are these kids going to get through?’" said Marion.

Early intervention and long-term support are key for positively influencing the outcomes achieved by disadvantaged children and young people.¹ They are principles that Marion swears by.

Our sponsors individually helped change the lives of more than 49,735 Australian children last year.

“Attendance is one of the big things. When families are in stress or crisis, getting kids to school seems to be a real issue,” she said.

“Their literacy drops and when they’re not doing well in school, that’s when disengagement starts. And it actually begins much earlier than high school.

“We support families on multiple levels, over the long term – financially, socially, emotionally and academically. It’s about bringing out the best in each child.

“The transition to high school is made much easier than it would have been but it’s not instantaneous. It’s not something that you can do for a month and then see a result. It is longer term work and generally a good year to two years, to really see those good results come through.

“And I think that’s the beauty of what The Smith Family does. It’s not just one off support, it’s long term support and it’s not just the support of one child, it’s the support for the entire family. And that’s where you can really make some big impact,” said Marion.

Hear more sponsorship experiences

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Claire is devoted to ensuring students aren't left behind

Tony was compelled to take action

Back to sponsorship

¹ Early Intervention and Long Term Support (The Learning for Life Program – The Smith Family Research Report 2016)