We must provide learning support for 18,922 children by 30 June.

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
  Learning for Life is an innovative, evidence-based program that supports students throughout their education to achieve positive long-term outcomes for young people experiencing disadvantage.
- 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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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.
- Corporate partnerships
  Corporate partnerships give young Australians in need the chance to change their futures through educational support. Discover how you can join forces with The Smith Family to create a mutually-beneficial, impactful partnership.
- 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 13,000 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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Numeracy programs

Maths skills are important in today’s digitally driven world.

Having strong numeracy skills is vital for success in the workplace, for taking control of your finances and managing a variety of daily tasks.

In today’s digitally driven world, maths skills are even more important for understanding how the world works, making informed decisions, and effectively utilising digital tools.

60.5% of Year 5 students whose parents have not completed Year 12 or equivalent fail to achieve above the national minimum numeracy standards.³

Right now, 1 in 3 Australian children living in poverty are unable to attain basic numeracy skills in their first year of school^.1 And once behind in maths, generally stay behind.²

Research shows that when children living with poverty receive targeted learning support at each stage of their education, they can build the foundations of a better future.

Girl learning to count using the abacus — Our Let's Count program, on the TODAY show

Learning starts in the early years. Little children’s brains are wired to learn, and The Smith Family is all about education.

Karen Russell, National Manager of Early Years and Government Programs

Numeracy programs

Let's Count

Let’s Count is an early maths program supporting parents and educators of children aged 3-5 years to help children develop essential numeracy skills.

¹ OECD (2023), PISA 2022 Results (Volume I): The State of Learning and Equity in Education, PISA, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/53f23881-en.
² David Geary, Setting the preschool foundation for success in Mathematics, Centre for Independent Studies Limited (2022) .
³ The Smith Family, Improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged young Australians: The Learning for Life program report (2016).