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

Without access to computers and the internet, disadvantaged students are getting left behind

Students on programs

01 February 2017

Life in today’s digital world is ever-changing. Online learning and flexible work arrangements are transforming how we study and work. And digital technology is creating new possibilities for the type of work we do. Yet many disadvantaged students don’t have access to computers or the internet at home.

Only 68% of children aged 5 to 14 in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities access the internet at home, compared with 91% of students from the most advantaged communities.¹Without the internet to research and complete homework, disadvantaged students fall further behind at school. Later in life, they lack the skills they need to take part in our digital world.

jason-at-school — Jason, sponsored student

Jason is in his third year of university and aspires to one day be a judge. Without the financial assistance from Smith Family supporters, Jason wouldn’t be able to complete his tertiary studies. “The biggest thing has been allowing me to access all of the digitised services. About 80 to 90% of university now is online and digital. Being able to use the money to purchase a laptop that I wouldn't get without sponsorship has given me access to the information and resources I need,” said Jason.

Yet digital exclusion starts much earlier in a disadvantaged student’s education. That’s why we’ve been delivering Digital Access to families since 2007. Digital Access enables our Learning for Life families access to low cost internet and devices as well as tech support and the knowledge on how to make the most of the technology they have.

Since 2019, Through our long term corporate partner Optus and its Donate Your Data initiative – and the generosity of all the many Australians opting to donate their data - we are providing internet access to 13,000 of our students who otherwise wouldn’t have it.

Being able to use the money to purchase a laptop that I wouldn't get without sponsorship has given me access to the information and resources I need.

Jason, sponsored student

For $55 a month, your sponsorship combined with that of another sponsor, will provide a child with the learning essentials they need such as books, stationery and data, so they don't fall even further behind.

¹The Smith Family (2013) Sport, culture and the internet: Are Australian children participating?

Popular Searches

Without access to computers and the internet, disadvantaged students are getting left behind

Learn More

How we help

Hear from sponsored families

Sponsor a child

Our work