3,595 children urgently need support before they head back to school.

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- Literacy programs
  Providing resources and support to help children living with disadvantage achieve the required reading standard.
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  Providing children and young people living with disadvantage with the critical skills, access, and equipment they need.
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  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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Gaps in support limit young people’s futures

Inadequate and ad-hoc careers education

Young Australians are navigating one of the toughest job markets in decades. Low-skilled, entry-level jobs are disappearing or evolving into roles that demand more advanced skills – especially digital literacy, including AI literacy. It’s predicted more than 9 in 10 future jobs will require post-school qualifications.

For young people experiencing disadvantage, the barriers to meaningful employment are even greater. They are less likely to finish school or pursue tertiary education. Many also have more limited exposure to career networks and lack access to reliable internet or a computer.

In Australia, careers education is not a compulsory part of the curriculum. And while there are pockets of excellence, career support in schools is often ad hoc, underfunded and inadequate to keep pace with a rapidly changing, uncertain economy. This challenge is even greater in schools where student needs are higher, but resources are more limited.

Right now, far too many students growing up in disadvantage are missing out on vital opportunities, that could help them make the most of their full potential. The consequences are significant, with the impacts felt across families, communities, and the economy. Conservatively, the average lifetime social cost to governments and the community for each 24-year-old not in full-time work, education, or training is estimated at $1.1 million.

It’s hard to imagine your future when you don’t have all the resources you need to build it.

SUZIE RIDDELL

59%

of students experiencing disadvantage had a dedicated career counsellor at their school, compared with 81% of more advantaged students.¹

9 in 10

9 in 10 around 92% of new jobs expected to be created over the decade to 2033 will require post-secondary school qualifications.³

Year 12

just under 70% of students from low socio-economic areas gained Year 12 certification, compared with almost 83% from higher socio-economic areas.²

I always had the vision that I would go to university, but there were a lot of unknowns. I didn’t know how I was going to get there because of my family’s financial situation at the time. There were never any real conversations about how university would be funded, or where I was heading.

Read Kaytlyn's story

The solution

Now, more than ever, Australia needs a sustained national effort to ensure all young people develop the skills and confidence to thrive in an increasingly uncertain job market. The answer isn’t just more careers advisors; what’s needed is a tailored, long-term approach that starts in primary school.

It means nurturing a child’s aspirations early, then connecting them with workplace experiences, mentors, and higher education throughout their schooling. Research shows that the more young people engage in career conversations and activities at school, the better their education and employment outcomes.

We are calling for

The introduction of high-quality careers education in all schools, including a digital skills strategy, to equip young people for evolving tertiary education and job markets. This will require a rethink of how we approach school-based careers education and significant investment in scaling up effective programs.
The creation of meaningful, long-term careers opportunities for students through collaboration between governments, businesses, educational institutions, and community sectors.
Government initiatives that prioritise young people facing disadvantage in jobs and skills policies; strengthen career support and workforce exposure in schools, with greater access to Vocational Education and Training (VET); focus on the development of key employment-related skills in students, including digital literacy; and offer paid, structured workplace support to help young people move from post-school study to employment.

How we are helping

The Smith Family are helping by:

Growing Careers Project

Run by The Smith Family and funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, this project helps young people build the skills and experience they need to thrive post-school by connecting them with a range of career programs. Learn more.

Advocacy

The goal of educational equity drives everything we do. That’s why we advocate for young people facing poverty and disadvantage – to break down barriers and ensure they have the same opportunities to learn and succeed, whether they’re in our programs or not.

Our advocacy is apolitical and informed by research, evidence, and real-world experience.

Research & insights:

Policy submissions:

How you can help

¹OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment
²Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority 2022 data
³Jobs and Skills Australia: Towards a National Jobs and Skills Roadmap