Poverty in Australia
Our Programs
- Literacy programs Providing resources and support to help disadvantaged children achieve the required reading standard.
- Numeracy programs We support parents and early years educators in developing the maths skills of the children in their care so that they can establish the necessary foundation skills.
- Mentoring programs Mentoring programs for disadvantaged students that give the encouragement they need to build aspirations for their future.
- Technology programs Providing disadvantaged children and young people with the critical skills, access and equipment they need.
- Learning for Life Providing holistic, long-term support for disadvantaged young Australians throughout their education.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students face additional challenges in their journey through and beyond school.
- > View all programs
Get Involved
- Sponsor a child Through sponsorship, you will be matched to an Australian child in need, helping to support the cost of their school essentials.
- Volunteer with us Share your skills to help Australian children in need transform their lives through education.
- Careers We aim to provide a working environment where staff and volunteers have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
- Ways to Fundraise Learn about fundraising and give back to the community with The Smith Family.
- Partnerships Learn how your organisation can partner with The Smith Family and help build a better future for Australian children in need.
- VIEW Clubs of Australia Learn about VIEW, a leading women’s volunteer organisation and support network with over 16,000 members, across Australia.
Ways to Give
- Sponsor a child Through sponsorship, you will be matched to an Australian child in need, helping to support the cost of their school essentials.
- Monthly Donor Become a monthly donor and provide continual support throughout all stages of a child’s education.
- Donate clothing Donate your new or good quality clothes and make a positive impact on the environment while supporting disadvantaged children.
- A gift in your will Ensure that future generations of Australian children have the support they need to make the most of their education.
- Give toys or books The Toy & Book Appeal is your opportunity to help bring a smile to a child's face this Christmas.
- Single Donation Your donation will help young Australians in need by providing access to our Learning for Life education support programs.
Shop with Us
- Retail stores Find your closest retail store from 19 locations across NSW and the ACT.
- Charity Gifts Purchase a virtual Charity Gift and support learning and mentoring programs.
- Charity Christmas cards Order your Christmas cards, corporate Christmas cards or e-cards and support The Smith Family.

Let's Count

Children in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school already behind.

Children who start school behind in maths generally stay behind.

Numeracy is a foundation skill for successful participation in our society – individuals need it for budgeting, taking medication and employment. The STEM disciplines – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - are key underpinnings for the future of innovative economies, with an increased global reliance on these knowledge areas.

Our Let's Count program, on the TODAY show

What is Let’s Count?

Let’s Count is an early mathematics program for children aged three to five, developed by The Smith Family and Professor Bob Perry from Charles Sturt University and Associate Professor Ann Gervasoni from Monash University.

The program supports parents and early years educators to develop the maths skills of the children in their care by noticing, exploring, and talking about numbers, counting, measurement and patterns in their daily lives.

How does Let’s Count help?

Let's Count supports parents and early childhood educators to have the skills and confidence so they can develop the maths skills of the children in their care. The program emphasizes maths in the everyday, and helps children to see maths as relevant, stimulating and fun, which sets them up for future success.

“I wish that everybody had the opportunity to do Let’s Count, because I’ve just seen such big improvement in the children’s concepts of maths and preparing them for school net year..’” - Let’s Count Educator

“…it was a nice reminder, just how simple maths things can be at home ad uncomplicated and immediate in your environment around you.” - Let's Count Parent

Mother and daughter learning to count through a game of dominoes

Read the three year evaluation report “Strengthening early numeracy learning: The Let’s Count program”

Download PDF

The Origin Foundation has supported The Smith Family to expand the program through a four year partnership (2011-2015) valued at $1.6 million. In that time it has reached 8,500 children, 4,500 parents and more than 300 educators across more than 17 Australian communities.

Orica has committed to supporting The Smith Family to expand and digitise our Let’s Count program through a three year project (2017-2019). This will allow us to optimise delivery and increase program availability via digital channels in 2017, thus increasing the program’s reach, with a greater number of children benefiting from this program over time. Read more

Let's Count

Children in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school already behind.

What is Let’s Count?

How does Let’s Count help?

Related links

Tech Packs

MoneyMinded

Money for Life

Let's Read

Let's Count

Let's Count

Children in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school already behind.

What is Let’s Count?

How does Let’s Count help?

Related links

Tech Packs

MoneyMinded

Money for Life

Let's Read

Let's Count

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