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"I want you to know that without your help many children like me would drop out of school earlier and not accomplish the things I have been able to. You have given me a sense of hope and the ability to finish what I started"

Jacinta, a Learning for Life student, thanks her sponsor

"I see so many people in a similar situation to that of my family who are stuck because they haven't had the same educational opportunities to break out of disadvantage"

Lee, ex Learning for Life student and now a Learning for Life sponsor

"Every kid has a dream for their future, but they don't all have the tools to succeed. If given the chance, then there's a world of possibilities out there"

Paul, Leaning for Life student

Learn more about disadvantage and The Smith Family

You might think disadvantage couldn't exist in a country like Australia. But it does! It is very real for thousands of Aussie kids. But with the right support and connections and people just like you, the cycle of disadvantage can be broken. The Smith Family works to break that cycle by giving children and young people living in disadvantage a hand up, not a hand out.  We believe education can transform lives and that is why we choose to support them to get the most out of their education so that they can create better futures for themselves.

Learning for Life student stories

Learning for Life is The Smith Family's education support program.

These stories are real, however names and images have been changed to protect the privacy of students and their families

  • Angela

    My name is Angela and I'm 11 years old. I live with my dad and dog, Muddy, in Queensland. My mum doesn't live with us, the last time I saw her was six years ago, but I don't really care about her being gone. I'm an only child, except for a half-brother, Justin, he's 19. Mum had him in a previous marriage, but I don't have much to do with him. Read more...

  • Zakariah

    Like many people who have migrated from the Horn of Africa, Zakariah's family were determined to leave the uncertainties of the past behind them when they arrived in Melbourne four years ago. Read more...

  • Jasmine

    Jasmine's interest in her education - and life in general - started to turn around when her mum was introduced to Sarah, The Smith Family's Learning for Life Worker based at her school. "With a new uniform, books and money to go on excursions, I finally felt that I fitted in; that I belonged. Read more...

  • Emma

    I come from a small family - me, my mum and my sister. We live together with minimal support from my father and other extended family. We're on our own. So it makes it much harder to get what we need. Read more...

 

What is disadvantage?

It's more than just about "not having enough money". Kids living in disadvantage are often unable to access the same educational, health or life opportunities others can take for granted. Circumstances beyond a young person's control, such as family joblessness or low pay, not only affect their access to basic resources such as books and school equipment; it also means they have limited access to important support networks and positive role models.

Factsheet: What is disadvantage?

Factsheet:
 Where does disadvantage
exist in Australia?
 

What is Learning for Life?

We know from research that supporting a child’s education is one of the most powerful ways to help a child break free from the ongoing effects of financial disadvantage. 

The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program supports disadvantaged children and young people all the way through their education, from pre-school and primary school, to senior school and on to tertiary studies if they choose. This long term financial and personal support gives young Australians the help they need to develop vital life skills, stay engaged in their education and have the best chance to realise their potential.

Carly, a Learning for Life student writes, “I want you to know that without your help many children like me would drop out of school earlier and not accomplish the things I have been able to. You have given me a sense of hope and the ability to finish what I started.”  

How The Smith Family Works


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The Smith Family Story


The Smith Family was founded in 1922, when five business men decided to give toys to an orphanage on Christmas Eve. When asked their names, they all replied "Mr Smith" so they would remain anonymous.

Since then The Smith Family has continued to help disadvantaged Aussie kids, and today is a national, independent children's charity that helps disadvantaged Australian children to get the most out of their education, so they can create better futures for themselves.

In the last year The Smith Family's work reached more than 126,000 children and families across Australia.

 

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