This Winter, 19,583 children need your support to keep up at school.

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.
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.
- 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.
Login
Child Sponsorship
Donate now

New survey: Four out of five Australians believe tackling childhood poverty should be a national priority

30 April 2026

Education the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

High-res photos, b-roll and spokesperson grabs are available for download.

As the cost of living and fuel prices continue to rise, a new survey from The Smith Family shows most Australians believe tackling childhood poverty should be one of the nation’s top priorities.

The Smith Family’s 2026 Community Attitudes Survey (CAS) also found more than four out of five Australian’s say providing extra support for students experiencing disadvantage is the key to breaking the cycle.

Chief Executive Officer, Doug Taylor says the survey shows Australian’s understand the barriers faced by students experiencing disadvantage and it takes a collective effort from all Australians to address educational inequality.

“Parents are doing their best, but cost-of living pressures are making it harder for parents to afford all the school essentials their child needs to make the most of the educational opportunities,” Mr Taylor says.

“The Smith Family recently asked families that we support how fuel price rises had impacted them, with nine out of 10 saying they had cut back on other areas, like school essentials, so they can fill up the petrol tank.

“Tackling educational inequality is the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage, so we need to ensure students have the support and resources to make the most of their schooling opportunities.”

The CAS was released today to coincide with the launch of The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal campaign: Poverty, Hidden in Plain Sight.

Survey respondents also say it is harder for those children and young people experiencing disadvantage to:

Stay engaged with school (79%);
Keep up with learning (81%);
Keep up with their peers in the classroom (77%);
And participate in excursions and extracurricular activities (77%).

The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal is aiming to raise $8,225,000 to support the charity’s various education programs - including Learning Clubs, Student2Student, Work Inspiration and SmArts.

Learning Clubs are run after school and connect students with tutors in small groups to help with homework and assessments.

Around four in five students say the program:

Improved their willingness to attend school;
Helped them do better in the classroom;
And improved their confidence and engagement in the classroom

Mr Taylor says programs like these help build the skills and learning opportunities studentsneed to make the most of their education.

“We may not always see disadvantage, but children and young people experiencing it feel the impacts everyday – particularly whilst at school,” Mr Taylor says.

“We know The Smith Family’s evidence-based programs support students experiencing disadvantage to stay engaged with school and keep up with their peers.

“However, we can only deliver those programs due to the generosity of donors and supporters.

“If you have the means, please consider donating to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal.

“An investment in a student today, pays dividends for all of us in the future.”

To donate, visit thesmithfamily.com.au/donate

The findings from The Smith Family’s recent fuel price survey can be found here.

1002 people responded to the 2026 Community Attitudes Survey, which was conducted by Essential Research, with data provided by QuestionPro.

Media contacts:

Andrew Dickson | National Media Manager (National) - 0421 285 529 | andrew.dickson@thesmithfamily.com.au
Carla Horton | Senior Media Advisor (QLD & WA) - 0423 618 776 | carla.horton@thesmithfamily.com.au
Reid Jermyn | Media Advisor (VIC, SA & NT) - 0412 803 566 | reid.jermyn@thesmithfamily.com.au
Ben Chenoweth | Senior Media Advisor (NSW, ACT & TAS) - 0413 346 934 | ben.chenoweth@thesmithfamily.com.au

The Smith Family is a national children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power of education. We partner with around 800 Australian schools and work with over 186,000 children and young people experiencing disadvantage access our education support programs to help them overcome. For more information, visit thesmithfamily.com.au