Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Looking back on 2024, looking forward to more
28 October 2024
It has been a remarkable year. We heard from so many children and young people going after their goals at school and beyond. You played a vital role in connecting students across Australia with the education needed to achieve their dreams of a brighter future. We look back on some here – and look forward to the many more ahead. It has been a remarkable year.
We heard from so many children and young people going after their goals at school and beyond. You played a vital role in connecting students across Australia with the education needed to achieve their dreams of a brighter future. We look back on some here – and look forward to the many more ahead.
We heard from so many children and young people going after their goals at school and beyond. You played a vital role in connecting students across Australia with the education needed to achieve their dreams of a brighter future. We look back on some here – and look forward to the many more ahead.
A year of higher costs for parents and carers brought extra challenges for many families - families like Ciemara’s who were already experiencing financial hardship.
Ciemara was doing everything she could for her children – but it was difficult. Thanks to a supporters just like you, the financial pressure lifted for Ciemara. She could ensure her boys, Lucas and Jackson, had the school essentials all students need to reach their potential.
Sponsorship helped the brothers have the same uniforms and shoes as their peers. This meant they could focus less on ‘fitting in’ and more on learning today so they could change their tomorrows.
Ciemara was doing everything she could for her children – but it was difficult. Thanks to a supporters just like you, the financial pressure lifted for Ciemara. She could ensure her boys, Lucas and Jackson, had the school essentials all students need to reach their potential.
Sponsorship helped the brothers have the same uniforms and shoes as their peers. This meant they could focus less on ‘fitting in’ and more on learning today so they could change their tomorrows.
Thanks to your support, young people like Aila-Dawn didn’t have to miss out on learning opportunities. Through participating in our out-of-school creative program SmArts, Aila-Dawn was given hands-on experience and mentoring. For three days she painted and learnt about creative careers. SmArts has helped her to apply creative practice to her education and build it into her future plans. “SmArts has awakened my love for art and made me realise becoming an artist is something I definitely want to do,” Aila-Dawn shares.
Through the many programs you supported this year, students opened up their world of possibilities. These proven and innovative programs have helped students build important skills that last a lifetime, like reading, a life skill that sets children up with more ways to succeed at school and beyond.
The Smith Family program student2student does this in a fun and engaging way. It’s where students are matched with a buddy to read books they're interested in. This peer support boosts the student’s confidence in reading, developing literacy skills to set themselves up for a lifetime of learning.
2024 saw 96% of student2student participants improving their reading, including Zac – a primary school student with a mum who wants nothing but the best for him. After the death of Zac’s father, it was a difficult time for the family, with hardship and stress having a lasting impact.
Zac’s confidence, self-assurance and skills grew through learning to read with a buddy. He’s now unlocking his ability to get the most out of school at a big stage in his life.
Looking back on these stories, it’s clear how much of an impact your support makes for many families. Thank you for playing a key role in the lives of students accessing educational programs. With generous people like you supporting the power of education, we look forward to more great stories in the years to come.
Zac’s confidence, self-assurance and skills grew through learning to read with a buddy. He’s now unlocking his ability to get the most out of school at a big stage in his life.
Looking back on these stories, it’s clear how much of an impact your support makes for many families. Thank you for playing a key role in the lives of students accessing educational programs. With generous people like you supporting the power of education, we look forward to more great stories in the years to come.
