The Smith Family: Children's Charity

Charity Organisation helping children

Australia is best known as a lucky country, but sadly one in seven Australian children are living in disadvantage and do not have access to the same educational, health or life opportunities that many of us enjoy and often take for granted. The Smith Family is a children's charity that seeks to help these disadvantaged children and their families in times of need.

Disadvantaged children in Australia - what makes life so hard?

There are roughly 680,000 disadvantaged kids living in Australia at the moment. As the nation continues in this difficult economic situation, many will remain trapped in financial, social and educational disadvantage, which could negatively impact upon their opportunity to make the most of their lives. Early intervention is crucial, which is why The Smith Family is a children's charity committed to helping kids realise their potential through education and learning.

Financial difficulty

Government research has shown there are clear relations between family financial disadvantage and poorer school readiness, as well as later academic achievement and adjustment. Early intervention through a children's charity, like The Smith Family, links disadvantaged children with opportunities, services and support.

Disadvantaged families

The experience of disadvantage begins in the early years, which is why the first five years in a child's life are so important. In fact, studies have shown that children from disadvantaged circumstances often have poorer quality early childhood experiences, which leads to a poor home-to-school transition and lower educational achievement. As a children's charity, The Smith Family is dedicated to ending the cycle of disadvantage from the start.

Emotional and social issues

As a result of such disadvantages, we often see underachievement, anxiety and social isolation in disadvantaged children, not only in primary school, but throughout high school and beyond. The Smith Family is a children's charity committed to supporting the emotional, financial and social needs of disadvantaged children.

Children's charities, like The Smith Family, facilitate well-developed, research-based educational, personal support and mentoring programs to improve the outlook for these disadvantaged children. As research has shown, The Smith Family's children's charity work supporting education and learning is one of the most effective means of breaking the cycle of disadvantage and ensuring all children have the same opportunity to realise their potential.



How can you help?

From mentoring, to child sponsorships and parental programs, children's charities like The Smith Family are involved in every aspect of improving a child's life.

There are 3 significant ways you can help:
1. Volunteer. Whether you're a mum, dad, student or young at heart, if you have spare time, why not consider volunteering? Build up your skills, meet new people and help make Australia a better place for all.

2. Donate. You can give financially by sponsoring a child, committing to monthly giving or with material donations like clothes, toys and books. By donating to a children's charity like the Smith Family, you are directly helping a child and their family break out of the cycle of disadvantage through education.

3. Sponsor a child. For less than a dollar a day, you can directly contribute to the wellbeing of a disadvantaged child, providing them with invaluable educational, health and life opportunities.

This article was brought to you by The Smith Family - Children's Charity.

The Smith Family is an independent non-profit organisation committed to helping disadvantaged Australian children by unlocking opportunities through education and learning. For more information, visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au