Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs The challenge of educational equity
No one chooses poverty. Families work hard to overcome challenges – and schools and teachers do the same to help students fit in and succeed. But the daily reality of life’s struggles can be relentless.
Not all children get a fair start in life
Australia’s unequal education system
No child’s future should be shaped by poverty or disadvantage. Yet too often, a young person’s path through school – and life – is determined not by their potential, but by their circumstances.
Right now, one in six Australian children are growing up in poverty. Their families are doing their best, but when even the basics like food and housing are out of reach, there’s little left for school essentials like books, uniforms, class excursions or extra-curricular activities.
Australia has one of the most inequitable education systems in the OECD. Students experiencing disadvantage face greater barriers and less support with their learning. That means they are more likely to fall behind in key skills like literacy and numeracy, to leave school early, and to miss out on post-school education, training or career pathways that could help them build a better future.
This entrenched and systemic inequity denies children the chance to learn, grow and thrive. It limits their educational outcomes and long-term opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and disadvantage across generations.
Right now, one in six Australian children are growing up in poverty. Their families are doing their best, but when even the basics like food and housing are out of reach, there’s little left for school essentials like books, uniforms, class excursions or extra-curricular activities.
Australia has one of the most inequitable education systems in the OECD. Students experiencing disadvantage face greater barriers and less support with their learning. That means they are more likely to fall behind in key skills like literacy and numeracy, to leave school early, and to miss out on post-school education, training or career pathways that could help them build a better future.
This entrenched and systemic inequity denies children the chance to learn, grow and thrive. It limits their educational outcomes and long-term opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and disadvantage across generations.
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1 in 4
Children in the most disadvantaged communities, start school behind in key learning areas like literacy and numeracy.¹ -
4+ years behind
Children who start school behind are, on average, 4 years behind in maths and more than 5 years behind in reading by Year 9.² -
Missing out
Children in low-income homes often miss out on things they consider essential for school, such as suitable clothes, excursions and extracurricular activities.³
Like all parents, Ciemara wants her children to thrive at school and beyond. But as a single mum, she worried poverty could cause them to miss out on the opportunities their peers had.
Limiting poverty’s impacts
To break the cycle of disadvantage, we must build a fairer, more inclusive education system. This means investing in the resources and support that allow all students, especially those facing disadvantage, to succeed – from early childhood education through to post-school pathways.
Because only when we level the playing field will every child in Australia have a real chance to reach their potential, no matter their background or circumstances.
Because only when we level the playing field will every child in Australia have a real chance to reach their potential, no matter their background or circumstances.
What we're calling for
- Greater transparency on the supporting bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth and individual states and territories, including on the timing of funding and reform commitments.
- A focus on improving attendance, literacy, numeracy, and school completion, supported by evidence-based responses and better use of data. New initiatives must be evaluated, with lessons shared to support continuous improvement.
- Implementation of the promised Universal Student Identifier and improved data sharing help improve student outcomes.
- Action to address the growing concentration of disadvantage in public schools. Who a student goes to school with has an impact on their learning and future opportunities.
How we're helping
Over the last year, thanks to thousands of generous supporters and the dedication of our staff and volunteers, we provided education-oriented learning and support programs to more than 178,000 children and young people and their families across Australia.
Find out more about our evidence-based learning programs, including our flagship Learning for Life program that’s proven to improve educational and long-term outcomes for young people experiencing disadvantage. We provide access to targeted learning support, financial assistance to help families meet school costs, along with one-on-one guidance and practical and emotional advice.
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:
- Resilience, resourcefulness and determination: The Care2Achieve scholarship for young women leaving state care
- The Catch-Up Learning Program: Supporting students experiencing disadvantage through online tutoring at home
- Improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged young Australians: The Learning for Life program
- Read other recent reports
- Policy submissions:
- Inquiry Into Student Pathways into In-Demand Industries
- Submission to the Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable
- Productivity Commission Consultation: Harnessing data and digital technology
- Submission: Families and Children Activity: Review of Children, Youth and Parenting Programs
- Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) Bill 2024
- Read more submissions
How you can help
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Sponsor a child
Your sponsorship, together with another sponsor's support, provides a child with essential learning tools like books and a uniform – helping them to succeed at school. -
Volunteer
Join a community of volunteers passionate about helping young Australians overcome educational inequality caused by poverty and disadvantage. -
Join the conversation
Tune into our podcast and video series exploring work happening across Australia to help young people change their future through the power of education.
1 Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute – Educational opportunity in Australia in 2020
2 The Grattan Institute
3 NSW Social Policy Research Centre