Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Our Reconciliation Action Plan
Our vision for reconciliation
Our vision for reconciliation is a nation where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children fully benefit from the education and learning opportunities this nation has to offer, and the broader Australian community truly values, and shows deep respect for and understanding of, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia.
Reconciliation is about Relationships, Respect and Trust
Through reconciliation we strengthen the relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians.
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal statement of commitment to reconciliation underpinned by key themes of Relationships, Respect and Opportunities. A RAP assists organisations to foster an enabling environment that promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ empowerment. By making this commitment The Smith Family will be guided by and work together with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elders, respected and recognised leaders, parents, teachers and community leaders to:
- Support Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander children and families through our educational and learning support programs
- Enrich the lives of our team members, supporters and volunteers through a deeper understanding and connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to contribute through our programs
Our commitments to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are outlined in our 2021-2024 Reconciliation Action Plan
Our new RAP sets out 16 practical actions (along with 92 deliverables) that The Smith Family will take to build strong and trusting relationships, champion ongoing respect and understanding between cultures and create opportunities through our corporate action. This includes ensuring we maintain at least 20% of Learning for Life scholarship students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Important areas of focus for our RAP are to:
- Update and continue to implement our employment strategy;
- Ensure that our procurement processes support Aboriginal owned businesses where possible; and
- Promote positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies
Improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people
We are driven by the vision that our nation can become a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children fully benefit from the education and learning opportunities that this nation has to offer and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are truly respected and valued as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia.
With the support of government and community partners, we implement a range of supportive programs delivered in the family, school and community environments to positively influence educational outcomes for children and young people. Through our work in 91 communities, in the 2021-2022 financial year, we supported 20,015 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. This includes providing a long-term educational sponsorship through our Learning for Life program to 13,304 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
We are honouring our long term commitment to reconciliation in Australia
In 2010, we first signed the Statement of Commitment to signal our agreement to respect the authority of the Australian Parliament in enacting a reconciliation journey and pathway for all Australians to observe.
More than a decade later, this is The Smith Family’s fourth Reconciliation Action Plan, developed under the guidance of the members of our Advisory Group on Issues Concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, our RAP Working Group members and Reconciliation Australia.
It is a “Stretch” RAP (our third of this type), and as such signifies our deep dedication to making progress across the key pillars of the RAP program – respect, relationships, and opportunities.
Introducing our cover art Traditional Hunter
The talented artist behind the artwork that we feature in our RAP is Justin Majid
"Living in the Torres Strait our islands are surrounded by the ocean and reefs. As a result of this, we have adapted to our environment, this is one of the main reasons why our main source of protein comes from the sea.
Depicted in this print is a hunter/warrior standing on the reef. Above him swims a hammerhead shark. Hidden in the background is a snake, bird, turtle, dugong and a squid. All of which we may hunt throughout the year."
Justin Majid
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs
Girls at the Centre
This aspirational program aims to strengthen social, emotional and cultural knowledge and academic aspirations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in Years 7–12.
Our actions toward reconciliation
The Smith Family recognises our responsibility and role in working with others to create a fairer and more equitable society for all Australians.
Indigenous Youth Leadership Program
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students living in remote or very remote areas to attend a high performing secondary school and/or university to further their education.