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

Our Programs
- Literacy programs
  Providing resources and support to help children living with disadvantage achieve the required reading standard.
- Technology programs
  Providing children and young people living with disadvantage with the critical skills, access, and equipment they need.
- Numeracy programs
  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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Get Involved
- Ways to fundraise
  Learn about fundraising and give back to the community with The Smith Family.
- Volunteer with us
  Share your skills to help Australian children in need transform their lives through education.
- Corporate partnerships
  Corporate partnerships give young Australians in need the chance to change their futures through educational support. Discover how you can join forces with The Smith Family to create a mutually-beneficial, impactful partnership.
- Careers
  We aim to provide a working environment where staff and volunteers have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
- Events
  Participate in events and activities that support young Australians experiencing disadvantage.
- VIEW Clubs of Australia
  Learn about VIEW, a leading women’s volunteer organisation and support network with over 13,000 members, across Australia.
Ways to Give
- Sponsor a child
  Through child sponsorship, you will be matched to an Australian child in need, helping to support the cost of their school essentials.
- A gift in your will
  Ensure that future generations of Australian children have the support they need to make the most of their education.
- Monthly donation
  Become a monthly donor and provide continual support throughout all stages of a child’s education.
- Philanthropic giving
  Through your philanthropy, you can ensure that young Australians impacted by poverty get the education that all children deserve.
- Single donation
  Your donation will help young Australians in need by providing access to our Learning for Life education support programs.
- Workplace giving
  Making small, regular donations to The Smith Family through Workplace Giving is an easy way to help change the lives of young Australians living in poverty.
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Leadership programs

Partnering to develop future leaders

Some kids need a bit more support to believe in themselves.

In disadvantaged families, it’s often harder for young people to engage in activities that supplement their classroom learning and stimulate personal growth. This can also affect a student’s self-esteem, self-reliance, leadership qualities, team-work abilities, confidence, compassion and interest in their local community.

Without access to opportunities and a social network, disadvantaged students miss out on more than just activities. They can miss out on a chance to see themselves as leaders.

Partner organisations

The Smith Family works with a number of partner organisations to offer young people in Learning for Life communities the chance to undertake a leadership and personal growth experiences that might transform their image of themselves and the world.

Working with Outward Bound Australia, we facilitate access for over 20 young people nationally every year to attend the National Aspiring Leadership Summit. We also work together to provide the Outward Bound camp in various states across Australia. These opportunities are open to young people in Years 9 to 12 to help expand their understanding of themselves and what they can achieve. The activities aim to strengthen stamina, leadership and team-working abilities.

Through our partnership with Foundation for Young Australians, we annually support up to 15 young people aged 18 from across Australia with the chance to work as an overseas volunteer from four to seven months. The placement allows these young people, who have just completed high school, to experience life beyond Australia, develop different perspectives, learn new skills, grow in confidence and independence and make new friends from home and abroad.

I have learnt to put myself out there and share my ideas, not to judge people from first impressions, to trust and push myself and most importantly, that I am stronger than I thought.

How do these experiences help?

Strengthening leadership and building self-esteem.

Young people who participate in leadership experiences are exposed to activities that strengthen their leadership and help them to develop more self-confidence and self-esteem.

What participants said:

"[I learnt to be] more comfortable in my own skin, especially when I have only just met people." - National Aspiring Leadership Summit Graduate

"I have gained so much confidence from my trip, and found it a really rewarding experience that will stay with me for life. My placement in Vietnam also helped me decide what I wanted to do at University next year. I had deferred a Bachelor of Primary Education until next year, however, I gained experience as a teacher in both Primary and Tertiary Centres, and because of that I have decided to change my degree next year so that in the long run I will be teaching Secondary Education rather than Primary. Without that experience I don't think I would have a clear vision of what I want to do in the future." - Sarah, Young People Without Borders participant

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Leadership programs

Partnering to develop future leaders

Some kids need a bit more support to believe in themselves.

Partner organisations

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Leadership programs

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How do these experiences help?

Strengthening leadership and building self-esteem.