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​My News: January 2026

Semester 1 Scholarship payments

Children in Year 10 or below in 2026:

  • Payment by Monday, 19 January.

Children in Year 11 or 12 in 2026:

  • Payment after 13 January, once we receive their Study Plan.
  • Log in to My Smith Family and choose the option that best represents their study plans for 2026.
If you have more than one child on the Learning for Life program, payments may arrive on different days. Each child’s payment is sent separately. 

To see payment amounts and check your payment history, visit the Payments page in My Smith Family. 
See payments
As part of the Learning for Life Scholarship, your child receives two payments a year. The Scholarship money helps support your child's educational journey.

Visit our Information Hub to see what you can spend your Scholarship payments on and how to make the most of your Scholarship payments.  

Working together in 2026

two school children at the front, a boy smiling while the girl is looking up peering at him, two children in the foreground standing next to each other

Has your child changed schools?

If your child has moved to a new school, please update their school details via the My Family section in My Smith Family. 

This information helps us: 
  • Support your child in their school community.
  • Makes it easier to share local events and opportunities.
  • Connects your child to educational support programs and extra help that may be available.
Your child’s Learning for Life Scholarship will continue even if they change schools. Keeping this information up to date helps us to best support your child in 2026. 
 

Starting the school year together

Your Family Partnership Coordinator is here to support you and your family. You’ll hear from them during the year, and you can contact them anytime if you need help.

Your Family Partnership Coordinator can:

  • Help with challenges that come up. For example, if you’re worried about something in your child’s school report.
  • Connect you with educational support programs.
  • Share information about other support services, if you decide that’s what you need. 
Please let them know about any changes at school, like if your child is having trouble going to school.

Reaching out is a positive step to make things easier for you and your child. You can find your Family Partnership Coordinator’s details in My Smith Family. 

 

a student doing their school work with an smith family learning for life tutor

Staying safe and confident online

a mother with her three children all viewing a laptop screen
Being online is a big part of school and everyday life.

Last year, thousands of families completed our survey about digital skills. Families told us they want to learn how to keep their children safe online and build confidence using technology.

Why this matters:
  • Schoolwork, homework and communication often happen online.
  • Digital skills help your child learn and prepare for future jobs.
  • Knowing how to stay safe online protects your family from scams and cyberbullying.
  • Feeling confident online can make things easier for you and your child.

This year, we’ll share tips and resources to help you build your digital skills and keep your family safe online:
  • Visit our Digital Skills hub for easy guides and tools.
  • Need help using My Smith Family or building your digital skills? Our Tech Support Team is here for you! You can make a booking to speak with them at a time that suits you.
Digital Skills hub

We’d love to hear what you think!

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You can also read past editions of My News, watch webinars, and log in to My Smith Family.

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