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.
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- Ways to fundraise
  Learn about fundraising and give back to the community with The Smith Family.
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  Share your skills to help Australian children in need transform their lives through education.
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  We aim to provide a working environment where staff and volunteers have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
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  Participate in events and activities that support young Australians experiencing disadvantage.
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  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.
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Breaking Poverty podcast

A new Smith Family podcast

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought one of the biggest disruptions to education we’ve ever seen.

Now is the time to support all children to get the best education possible to meet the challenges of the future.

We’re proud to present the stories of the families and young people we partner with, as they join us in this two-part podcast looking at the challenges of poverty and how education offers a lasting solution to the problem.

They are determined to succeed in their education and go on to create better futures for themselves.

As we get our nation back on its feet, we need all young people to have the skills in their education to fully participate in our society as we rebuild.

Dr Lisa O’Brien, former CEO of The Smith Family

"In Breaking Poverty I was privileged to meet young people who see higher education as a means of transforming the lives and their communities."Adam Shand, Host of Breaking Poverty

Breaking Poverty - Trailer

Episode 1. Left Behind

Australia's youth is increasingly disadvantaged, despite a promise to end child poverty by 1990. The reality of increased poverty in Australia has placed learning for thousands of children more at risk.

Listen with transcript

Episode 2. Breaking Poverty

With some assistance, young Australians of all backgrounds are overcoming disadvantage to achieve their educational goals which can give them, their families and the nation a positive future.

Listen with transcript

Podcast interviewees

In our family, we didn't really have any people who went past say Year 10 education. It was always doing very manual labour work, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it was just that that seems like the only thing we could do.

Fahad, Tertiary student

Fahad-Portrait — **Fahad** was inspired by his mum to aim high in his education and is now studying to be a doctor.

Vanessa-portrait — **Vanessa** is raising her four grandchildren alone and is grateful for the vital educational support provided by Smith Family sponsors.

The children, they go skipping off to school, they’ve got a good lunch, backpack. They’ve got the shoes, the socks, the proper uniform.

Vanessa, Grandmother carer of four children

I opened the email and I was home alone, yeah, it said, "Congratulations, you've got a place." And I just dropped to my knees. I was crying.

Emily, Tertiary student

Emily portrait — **Emily** has been supported by The Smith Family since primary school. Now she's following her dream to become a human rights lawyer.

kaiayla — **Kaia** grew up in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait and is the first in her family to go to university.

It was really hard for me to move away. But how I look at it in the long-term is that if I do this studying now, I can do the job I want and make the money I want, just to help my family out a lot.

Kaia, Tertiary student