Breaking Poverty Podcast

Firsthand stories of how education is playing a role in breaking poverty.

As we get our nation back on its feet, we need all young people to have the skills in their education to fully participate in our society as we rebuild.

Dr Lisa O’Brien, CEO of The Smith Family

Breaking Poverty a new Smith Family podcast

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought one of the biggest disruptions to education we’ve ever seen.

Now is the time to support all children to get the best education possible to meet the challenges of the future.

We’re proud to present the stories of the families and young people we partner with, as they join us in this two-part podcast looking at the challenges of poverty and how education offers a lasting solution to the problem.

They are determined to succeed in their education and go on to create better futures for themselves.

Listen to Breaking Poverty here

Breaking Poverty - Trailer

Adam Shand investigates the role of education in breaking poverty in these unprecedented times and safeguarding the future of the next generation. More than 1.2 million Australian children are living in poverty and thousands more are at risk as the nation slips into recession amid the COVID global pandemic.

Episode 1. Left Behind

Australia's youth is increasingly disadvantaged, despite a promise to end child poverty by 1990. The reality of increased poverty in Australia has placed learning for thousands of children more at risk.

Listen With Transcript

Episode 2. Breaking Poverty

With some assistance, young Australians of all backgrounds are overcoming disadvantage to achieve their educational goals which can give them, their families and the nation a positive future.

Listen With Transcript

Podcast Interviewees

Fahad-Portrait — **Fahad** was inspired by his mum to aim high in his education and is now studying to be a doctor.

In our family, we didn't really have any people who went past say Year 10 education. It was always doing very manual labour work, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it was just that that seems like the only thing we could do.

Fahad, Tertiary student

Vanessa-portrait — **Vanessa** is raising her four grandchildren alone and is grateful for the vital educational support provided by Smith Family sponsors.

The children, they go skipping off to school, they’ve got a good lunch, backpack. They’ve got the shoes, the socks, the proper uniform.

Vanessa, Grandmother carer of four children

Emily portrait — **Emily** has been supported by The Smith Family since primary school. Now she's following her dream to become a human rights lawyer.

I opened the email and I was home alone, yeah, it said, "Congratulations, you've got a place." And I just dropped to my knees. I was crying.

Emily, Tertiary student

kaiayla — **Kaia** grew up in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait and is the first in her family to go to university.

It was really hard for me to move away. But how I look at it in the long-term is that if I do this studying now, I can do the job I want and make the money I want, just to help my family out a lot.

Kaia, Tertiary student

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.