Help provide vital educational support to 11,705 Australian children 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

Donate now

Dr Craig Challen announced as new ambassador

Supporters

17 April 2019

We are thrilled to announce joint 2019 Australian of the Year Dr Craig Challen as The Smith Family’s new ambassador.

In July 2018, retired vet Dr Challen and anaesthetist Dr Richard Harris made worldwide headlines when they joined an international team to rescue a group of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Dr Challen said he chose to partner with The Smith Family because he is passionate about education and the effect it can have on breaking the poverty cycle.

“I’m really delighted to be involved with The Smith Family as I’m a great admirer of the work they do and I believe a good education makes all the difference to a child’s future,” Dr Challen said.

“We have more than a million children and young people in Australia living below the poverty line today. These kids are much more likely to struggle at school and are at much greater risk of not completing their education.

“I want to use my time as Australian of the Year to encourage all parts of our community to do what’s right for our young people and take action to reduce child poverty in our country.

“Central to these efforts is supporting children to stay in school and get the most out of their education. Organisations like The Smith Family are leading the charge with programs that are helping disadvantaged students attend school more regularly, stay in school longer and go on to further study or work.”

The Smith Family CEO Dr Lisa O’Brien thanked Dr Challen for his ambassadorship, adding that the Australian of the Year platform provides a unique opportunity to spearhead a national conversation about child poverty in Australia and the importance of education in creating better futures.

“Dr Challen is an inspirational Australian who led a heroic rescue to help children in need and we are thrilled to have him join us as an ambassador,” Dr O’Brien said.

“We look forward to him sharing his amazing story to inspire children and young people, and to highlight the importance of education in his own life and what it has helped him achieve.

“Dr Challen is also passionate about raising awareness of the extent and impact of child poverty in Australia. With one in six¹ Australian children and young people living below the poverty line, this support is more critical than ever.

“The Smith Family partners with schools in areas where families are really doing it tough to identify children who would benefit from financial support and targeted learning programs,” Dr O’Brien added.

“Our sponsorship program is helping these students achieve better outcomes at school so they have the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential into the future.”

¹Davidson, P., Saunders, P., Bradbury, B. and Wong, M. (2018), Poverty in Australia, 2018. ACOSS/UNSW Poverty and Inequality Partnership Report No. 2, Sydney: ACOSS.