Digital inequality is locking children out of learning.

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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Digital Access

Internet and devices for learning at home

Our Digital Access approach improves families’ digital inclusion by ensuring all Learning for Life families have access to low cost internet and devices as well as tech support and the knowledge on how to make the most of the technology they have.

At the Smith Family we want families to be digitally included so they can not only reap the educational benefits of being connected but also enables them to participate in our digital programs and access key services online.

Our Digital Access approach is able to deliver devices, internet plans and tech support to our Learning for Life families. At this point, due to funding constraints we are only able to offer this program to our current Learning for Life families.

How does the Digital Access Program help?

The Smith Family has long recognised the importance technology plays in a child’s education, having delivered digital technologies to families in our programs beginning in 2007. In 2022/2023, we have delivered over 2,500 Digital Inclusion Packs to our Learning for Life families in need of digital access and almost 11,000 students and family members were connected through Optus Donate Your Data. Our Digital Inclusion Packs include a laptop and/or an internet package along with Tech Support to ensure families have the support they need to use the technology they receive.

A survey in 2020 with families who had received a Digital Inclusion Pack from us found the following;

97% of parents reported having a device and/or internet in the home has been helpful for their child/ren’s education
65% of parents reported that having a device/internet helped their child/ren with online learning during COVID-19
75% of parents reported their child/ren’s ability to undertake schoolwork has increased
74% of parents said their child/ren’s skills in using a computer has increased

Receiving the laptop and internet package at such a difficult time in life with this COVID-19 pandemic happening was such an amazing gift from you all it has helped not only my son who's in year 11 it also helped my other 3 children tremendously they were able to do almost all of their online work they were sent from there schools they were also able to video link talk with their teachers on difficult areas they were facing with school work that was very hard to do without being in a classroom but with the help from you and receiving this laptop and internet bundle it really did help a lot thank you.

Learning for Life family member