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

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  Providing resources and support to help children living with disadvantage achieve the required reading standard.
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  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.
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  Mentoring programs for students living with disadvantage that provide the encouragement they need to build aspirations for their future.
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  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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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.
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  Through your philanthropy, you can ensure that young Australians impacted by poverty get the education that all children deserve.
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  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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Lily's story

Sponsored students

21 July 2015

Lily shares her story

Lily grew up with illness in her family and they struggled financially. Without sponsorship, she doesn’t think she would have even made it through high school.

“I probably would have dropped out in Year 10. I really wasn't enjoying school and it was just really hard and tight with money,” she said.

Now at university, Lily’s sponsorship helps her afford the increased expenses, including costly text books and practical equipment.

“[Without sponsorship] I would not have anywhere near as much time to focus on uni. I'd be working so much. I'd be constantly thinking, ‘Can I even do this assignment, because I don't have the means to do it?’

“[Sponsorship] has been amazing. I bought my university laptop with my payment. I wouldn't have been able to ever afford that [otherwise]. And I didn't have a computer, so I would have struggled a lot,” said Lily.

Lily still aspires to be the next Juanita Phillips and work for ABC News. Through our tertiary mentoring program, she will soon be paired with a mentor to help her reach her career goals. And she is grateful that her sponsor’s support gives her the tools she needs to get the most out of university.

I wouldn't be where I am today without sponsorship. I can't wait to get out into the work force and do the best I can in my chosen career.

Lily's story

At last year’s Smith Family graduation ceremony, Lily told us she was excited to be graduating high school and ready to start university. Twelve months later, Lily is studying hard to achieve her goal of being a TV journalist. And she couldn’t do it without sponsorship.

“A lot has changed. I feel like I've grown up a lot in the space of a year,” said Lily.

“I’m studying a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) and I love it. I've done a couple of assignments where you have to get up at 6am, go to uni and then they'll send you somewhere. You have maybe four hours to find someone, interview them, write up a story and publish it. It’s so exciting.”

Lily, sponsored student

[Sponsorship] has been amazing.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without sponsorship. I can't wait to get out into the work force and do the best I can in my chosen career.”

“Thank you for all the kind and generous support you've given me.”