Sponsor an Australian Child with The Smith Family

Please help 596 children start every school day with the essentials they need.

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.
View all programs
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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How poverty holds Australians back

1.2 million

Australian children and young people are living in poverty today.¹
30% lower

Year 12 completion rate when students experience disadvantage.²
2+ years behind

in reading and maths by Year 9.³

Break the cycle of disadvantage.

Your support gives children what they need to succeed.

Your sponsorship provides educational support to children who might otherwise struggle due to a lack of resources. Once you sign up, you’ll be giving a child access to:

Essential school supplies
Ongoing mentoring, guidance and career support
Access to learning programs

Sponsoring is simple – and powerful.

Here’s how it works:

1. Get matched with a child in need: We’ll connect you with a student who could benefit most – or you can personalise your sponsorship by choosing a child’s age, gender and where they live in Australia. Every child is matched with two sponsors, to ensure your support has the greatest impact.

2. Receive your welcome pack: Once you sign up, we’ll send you a welcome pack with your student’s profile and everything you need to know about the sponsorship program.

3. Stay connected: You’ll receive regular updates and progress reports, so you can see the difference your sponsorship makes over time.

Did you know you can choose the age of the child you wish to sponsor?

Right now, we have 2,317 children in Years 8 and 9 (aged between 13 and 14) who need a sponsor. With a greater emphasis on independent study and more complex subjects to tackle, adjusting to high school can be especially challenging. Please consider sponsoring a Year 8 or 9 child today.

$58 / month Tax deductible

Sponsor now

Remember, it’s easy to cancel if your circumstances change.

You can cancel your sponsorship at any time. Your sponsored child will continue to be supported by The Smith Family until another sponsor is found.

See the real difference you’re making

As a sponsor, you'll receive:

Personalised welcome pack with your sponsored child's story and profile

Updates and reports showing how your support is helping

Personal letters or drawings from your sponsored child (optional)

Annual program impact summaries

Tax-deductible receipt issued annually for your sponsorship donations

Discover how sponsorship changes lives.

All of your donation directly benefits your student

When you sponsor a child, all of your donation goes towards helping your sponsored student at school and beyond. Your $58 monthly donation is broken down to provide:

36%

School essentials

34%

Access to additional learning support

30%

Local, personalised support

36%

34%

30%

Find out more about how sponsorship works

Can a child and sponsor write to each other?

What happens to my student if I cancel my sponsorship?

How do I cancel the Sponsorship of my Learning for Life child?

Who is eligible to receive a Learning for Life sponsorship?

¹2020 Poverty in Australia ACOSS/UNSW Report.
²Sonnemann, J., Hunter, J. (2023) Tackling under-achievement. The Grattan Institute
³ 2008 Review of Australian Higher Education Final Report. Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

* Names, family details and associated images have been changed to protect the family’s identity.

How poverty holds Australians back

1.2 million

30% lower

2+ years behind