Sponsor an Australian Child in Need

8-year-old Amy is a bright, eager student who loves to learn. 

Right now, she should be happy and excited about going back to school. Looking forward to new challenges and spending time with her friends. Instead, she’s filled with dread. 

Amy’s parents work long hours to make ends meet, so she does what she can to help around the house – making meals, washing and sorting clothes and helping to keep their home clean and tidy.

She’s always tired by the time she sits down to do her homework – and when she’s struggling to understand, she has no one to turn to. Her parents grew up in poverty too and both left school early, so they don’t have the skills or knowledge to help.

Amy is too embarrassed to ask her teachers and she feels very alone. Her shoes are falling apart, and she can’t afford a proper school bag. Her uniform is tattered, but it's the only one she has. She thinks the other children are better than her and often hides at recess, because she doesn’t fit in.

Amy is trying really hard, but the burdens she carries because of her poverty are overwhelming – and they’re holding her back from reaching her full potential. 

She’s already behind her classmates in reading and writing. As she falls further and further behind, she’ll lose more and more of her self-esteem – and even worse, she may also lose her love of learning. 

Without help now, Amy may reach the point where she has nothing more to give. There’s a real risk that she’ll eventually give up on her education and leave school without completing Year 12. 

Today, one in six¹ Australian children and young people are growing up in poverty  where even life's basics are hard to come by.

The impact on a child’s education can affect the course of their entire life: without help, they may never be able to break the cycle of disadvantage.

Research shows that around 41% of 24-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are not fully engaged in work or study, compared to 17% of those from the most advantaged backgrounds².

Disadvantaged children like Amy are dreading going back to school this year. By becoming a sponsor, you can transform the life of a child like her by giving them access to school essentials and the ongoing extra educational support that they need. Because of you, they can catch up, keep up and fit in at school. Your help will empower them to improve their life circumstances – and all through supporting their education.

Early intervention is crucial. We provide targeted support that begins early in a child’s life and continues in a balanced, long-term way throughout their first two decades.