Right now 15,000 children are urgently waiting for sponsors.

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.
Login
Child Sponsorship
Donate now

Your support fills the gaps so students can flourish

11 March 2020

“Families are really excited about sponsorship. They see there is somebody out there who wants to help their kids get a good education,” said Learning for Life Coordinator, Trish.

“For a lot of these children, life is already hard. Without sponsorship, I think it would be a whole lot harder. Their parents would have to make choices about whether they put food on the table, or their children attend excursions. And we all know what decision they would have to make.

“The reality is that these children miss out on things. They may go to school without the proper uniform, which means they look different to other kids. This impacts their whole experience at school. In time, they become disengaged and, in all likelihood, won't finish school.

“You can see that parents are stressing about the fact that they need to buy new school jackets for winter. Or that there's an excursion coming up, but they don't know where they're going to find the money. So, for them, it's a huge relief to know that they have the support of the sponsors.

“There's a family that I work with. Three of the children come along to our Learning Club and they've recently completed student2student. Their mum told me that Learning Club is their favourite time of the week. That's amazing to hear!

“More than that, the mum said that she and her husband didn't finish high school. As their kids are getting older, it's really hard for them to help their kids with their homework.

“But with the support of the Learning Club tutors, the children are flourishing at school. They are building confidence and know that when they go to school, they can succeed. And that is an example of how the support helps to break the cycle of disadvantage.

“For children, there’s something really special about having a sponsor. It’s not just financial support, but that emotional support too. There's somebody in their corner who really wants them to do well.”

Two-ladies-looking-eachother-and-chatting