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Australia's poorest kids need your help to keep up at school

23 November 2015

One in three children living in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school behind their peers and will need additional learning support throughout their education, says the nation’s leading children’s education charity The Smith Family.

Launching The Smith Family’s 2015 Christmas Appeal, CEO Dr Lisa O’Brien said the organisation needed to raise $3.4 million by the end of the year to deliver this critical support.

“For most of us Christmas is a time for giving. For a child living in disadvantage, having someone support their education and provide them with learning opportunities can be the greatest gift,” Dr O’Brien said.

“Funds raised through our Christmas Appeal will ensure we can provide 8,500 students across every state and territory with access to important out-of-school learning programs next year.

“Children being supported by The Smith Family struggle daily with a whole array of challenges that can have a detrimental long-term impact on their educational journey.

“Growing up in a family with additional challenges such as sickness, disability and unemployment is another burden for a child already doing it tough in a low-income household.

“The difficulties they face at home often have a negative impact on their life at school, and will continue to do so, without extra help including outside of school hours.

“It’s only thanks to the generosity of the Australian public that we are able to provide disadvantaged children with the resources and opportunities they need to be able to participate fully in their education.”

The Smith Family’s runs learning support programs throughout the year and these have proven highly effective in boosting the educational outcomes of disadvantaged children.

In 2014, 1,089 primary students participated in the student2student reading program, with 95 per cent of students improving their reading. The program matches a student reader with a trained student buddy who listens to them read over the phone, two to three times each week for 18 weeks.

Of the nearly 3,000 disadvantaged primary students who attended The Smith Family’s after school Learning Clubs for tutoring, 89 per cent of students said it helped them try harder at school. Ninety-three per cent said it taught them to ask for help when they don’t understand.

Dr O’Brien said: “We need and sincerely appreciate the public’s help in ensuring disadvantaged young Australians have access to the programs they need to be able to catch up and keep up at school. In the spirit of giving this Christmas, we ask that people support a disadvantaged child’s future by donating to our Appeal.

“This support will give students the skills, motivation and essentials to stay in school and get the most from their education so they can create a better future for themselves.”

Donations to The Smith Family’s 2015 Christmas Appeal can be made at 1800 024 069.