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.
Login
Child Sponsorship
Donate now

Extra help got Sylvana online during school closures

Sponsored students

01 September 2020

Sylvia took on the role as grandmother and mother when Sylvana was of very young age. It had been some time since Sylvia went to school and even then, there were no such thing as computers, and she learned to type on an old style typewriter. When COVID-19 hit, overnight Sylvia had to step into the role of teacher as well. Yet with no computer and limited internet, it was difficult to access Sylvana’s learning materials.

“All the instructions for the school work each day were sent out in an email from the teacher in the morning. I had to keep opening the email on my phone to read and understand it. And I had to write it all down, because I didn’t have a printer,” said Sylvia.

“I only had a mobile phone with 10GB of data. I didn’t have a computer. It wasn’t easy because the schooling was all on YouTube. I ran out of data so quickly that I couldn’t upload anything for Sylvana’s assignments or responses back to the teacher.”

Every sponsored student and their family is matched with a Learning for Life Coordinator. Our Learning for Life Coordinators, like Jenny, worked extra hard throughout the COVID-19 crisis to ensure students had the support they needed.

“Jenny called regularly to check how we were going and see how she could help. It was wonderful having someone who understood. Most of the other parents are in their 20s or 30s, so it’s very different for me,” said Sylvia.

When Jenny heard that Sylvana couldn’t access the school materials, she was able to provide her with a laptop that had been generously donated by a corporate partner.

“The look on Sylvana’s face was priceless when she opened the laptop. She was over the moon! Sylvana’s new laptop and all her schooling stuff was set up on the dining table and that’s where she did all her work," said Sylvia.

“There are so many children out here that need this help and support, and parents don’t want to ask because they feel it’s intimidating. It makes them feel inadequate, like I did.”

Sylvia is so grateful to Sylvana’s sponsor and the extended support of The Smith Family. It has been essential in helping Sylvana to participate fully in her schooling.

1 in 6 of the families we work with currently cannot access the digital tools that their children need for school. Your gift today can provide a child with the vital access to a computer, internet and digital skills, so they can keep up with their education and get the fair go all children deserve.

Learn more