Don't let poverty hold Molly back | Sponsor an Australian child

Only 588 more children need support before Term 1 ends.

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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- 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.
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  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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Child Sponsorship
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You can sponsor an Australian child today

The cycle of disadvantage - family challenges lead to reduced educational outcomes for children, difficulty getting a job and overall life outcomes impacted

The cost of living continues to climb, Australian children experiencing disadvantage need you now more than ever

One in six Australian children and young people are growing up in poverty¹, where even the bare necessities are hard to come by. In a family where there is no regular income, money goes on food, rent and bills. Finding money for a school uniform, proper shoes, textbooks or the next school excursion is often impossible.

Right now, 12,116 children are waiting for sponsors. Please help them receive the support they need at this critical time.

Help Molly break the cycle of poverty through education

Molly’s mum, Angie, has reduced her hours working in retail to pursue studies to become a paralegal as Angie is determined to secure a better future for her family. But the cost of living has risen so much that the family is really struggling now, and Angie is torn between taking on more shifts or continuing to study, so they’ll be better off in the end.

Her daughter Molly, a 7-year-old girl in Year 2, feels the impact of the financial strain. Without the right uniform or school shoes, Molly stands out among her peers, feeling embarrassed and self-conscious. Despite Angie's efforts, tough decisions like choosing between petrol for the car and buying Molly warm clothing weigh heavily on her.

Molly, aware of her family's financial stress, avoids asking for school essentials or to go on excursions, missing out on important learning opportunities.

I just want to fit in and do well in school, but it's hard when I don't have the same things as the other kids. I'm determined to keep trying, no matter what.

Molly, age 7

A school girl looking at camera completing a worksheet

Molly is in a critical phase of her education. Students who don’t understand the basics of reading and writing in their foundational primary school years are set up to struggle through the rest of their educational experience.

Despite her best efforts, Molly has noticed she's falling behind her peers. She’s feeling frustrated because she’s trying her absolute best.

As Angie is juggling work and her own study commitments to become a paralegal, she has limited time to help her daughter Molly with her homework.

It's critical that Molly gets the early intervention she needs now, before this gap grows wider. Molly needs targeted extra learning support to keep up with her classmates and succeed at school.

drawing of a hand with a heart above it. The heart has red diagonal stripes, and the hand is outlined in blue with a red section on the wrist area

For $58 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.

How your sponsorship helps a child experiencing disadvantage

You can give children like Molly a chance to break the cycle of poverty.

Currently, 1 in 6 children¹ in Australia grow up facing similar challenges to Molly. They confront daily obstacles that hinder their academic progress and limit their potential. However, early intervention and targeted, long-term support offer a proven, effective solution.

For $58 a month, your sponsorship can provide a child with:

School essentials

Financial support to pay for stationery, backpacks, shoes and a complete school uniform, as well as school books and extra-curricular activities like school excursions.
Local, personalised support

Your sponsored child will be paired with one of our Learning for Life Coordinators who offers support with their schooling and links them to local learning opportunities.
Access to additional learning support

Ongoing access to our out-of-school learning and mentoring programs to help students build the skills to thrive at school and beyond.

You can make sure poverty doesn’t hold Molly back from reaching her full potential.

Poverty puts so many barriers in Molly’s schooling. Without the right uniform, shoes, and school bag, Molly feels self-conscious and struggles to fit in with her classmates. She lacks the confidence to fully participate in class, fearing more attention.

Molly struggles to keep up with her schoolwork without the necessary stationery and a proper workspace at home. She often does her homework on her bed, which is not ideal.

To help her fit in better, Molly would love to invite friends back to her home – but they live in a small rental unit, and she shares a bedroom with her little brother. They don’t have a fridge full of nice snacks to share, and she’s worried about what her friends might think.

A group of kids in the school playground

A school girl looking at camera holding a book

However, every day, Molly faces her challenges with courage, striving to participate in class despite feeling out of place. Yet, poverty remains a barrier, hindering her progress and limiting her opportunities.

Imagine the heights Molly could reach if she had the same tools and support as her peers. With proper resources and assistance, she could unleash her full potential, thriving academically and beyond. Your sponsorship will provide a child like Molly with ongoing financial and educational support, empowering her to catch up, keep up, and realise her dreams.

Find out more

About Child Sponsorship

Get more information on how child sponsorship with The Smith Family works.
Student stories

Hear from the children who are sponsored through The Smith Family.
Our learning programs

Read about how The Smith Family works with communities around Australia.

Please sponsor an Australian child like Molly today and give them access to the support they need to unlock their potential and build a better future for themselves.

*Molly’s name, location and associated images have been changed to protect her identity.

¹ Poverty in Australia, 2020, ACOSS/UNSW overview report.

You can sponsor an Australian child today

The cost of living continues to climb, Australian children experiencing disadvantage need you now more than ever

Help Molly break the cycle of poverty through education

How your sponsorship helps a child experiencing disadvantage

You can give children like Molly a chance to break the cycle of poverty.

For $58 a month, your sponsorship can provide a child with:

School essentials

Local, personalised support

Access to additional learning support

You can make sure poverty doesn’t hold Molly back from reaching her full potential.

However, every day, Molly faces her challenges with courage, striving to participate in class despite feeling out of place. Yet, poverty remains a barrier, hindering her progress and limiting her opportunities.

Find out more

About Child Sponsorship

Student stories

Our learning programs

Please sponsor an Australian child like Molly today and give them access to the support they need to unlock their potential and build a better future for themselves.