You can sponsor an Australian child today
The cost of living continues to climb, Australian children experiencing disadvantage need you now more than ever
Questions
For $55 a month, your sponsorship can provide a child with:
School essentials
Local, personalised support
Access to additional learning support
Your Child Sponsorship support in action
The Learning for Life sponsorship program recognises that disadvantaged children need extra support to stay at school and go on to further studies or employment.
So when a student is sponsored through The Smith Family, as well as financial assistance with purchasing school essentials, the student’s family is also paired with a Learning for Life Coordinator. The Learning for Life Coordinator offers students encouragement and support with their schooling; links students and their families to learning and mentoring programs in their community and helps children and young people to fully participate in their education.
Did you know you can choose the age of the child you wish to sponsor?
Read our latest Annual Report for fundraising efficiency and sponsorship program effectiveness.
On average, children growing up in disadvantaged homes are two to three years behind their more advantaged peers
The impacts of poverty are severe and far reaching. When they start school, many children in disadvantaged families are behind in basic reading and math skills2, lacking the essentials they need to fully participate in their education. Without the skills they need to keep up in class, these students can fall even further behind, making it more difficult for them to stay engaged and motivated at school.
Without early intervention, these children can fall so far behind it is almost impossible to catch up.
As a sponsor you'll receive
A welcome pack with information about your sponsorship
A student profile by your sponsored child
Annual tax-deductible receipt
As a sponsor you can
Access your personalised My Smith Family portal online
Correspond with your student at any time
Stay up-to-date with stories from students and families
Hear more sponsorship experiences
Sponsorship Frequently Asked Questions
Paul, Child Sponsor
* Molly’s name, family details and associated images have been changed to protect their family’s identity.
1 Poverty in Australia, 2020, ACOSS/UNSW Report.
2 Thomson et al, 2011, Challenges for Australian Education: Results from PISA 2009.