How effective is the Smith family?
Christopher Pierce
Updated on April 25, 2026
Making a difference Last year, 209,128 disadvantaged children and their families received support through Smith Family programs. Last year, we supported 57,847 Australian students through our Learning for Life sponsorships. Last year, 96% of children in our student2student reading program improved their reading age.
What has the Smith family achieved?
Our programs reached 209,128 participants in 2019-20. We worked with 741 partner schools. We celebrated 68.7% of Learning for Life students advancing from Year 10 to Year 12 in 2019. 94.5% of our Learning for Life tertiary students continued from first year to second year University study.
What is Smith Family Learning for Life?
What is Learning for Life? The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program recognises that disadvantaged children need extra support to stay at school and go on to further studies or a job. access to Smith Family educational programs to help children get the most out of their school years.
How much money does the Smith family make?
Revenue for the year increased by 10.9% to $131.9 million (2017: $118.9 million). During the year the Company continued to invest in the achievement of its five year strategy, increasing its expenditure on community programs in support of its mission to $74.6 million (2017: $65.9 million).
Is the Smith family a religious charity?
The Smith Family is a national, independent children’s charity helping disadvantaged Australians to get the most out of their education, so they can create better futures for themselves.
How did Smith Family trigger that morning?
They had been triggered by a massive earthquake off northern Sumatra earlier that morning. “The water was swelling and kept coming in,” Penny Smith remembered. “She talked about an earthquake under the sea.
Why is it called the Smith family?
On Christmas eve 1922, five businessmen walked into a Sydney orphanage carrying armfuls of toys and sweets. They walked out inspired by a single goal: to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Australia. When asked who the children could thank, one of the men, preferring to remain anonymous, said “Smith”.
How can we help disadvantaged students?
What you can do
- Treat students equally; disadvantaged students can perform to the same standard as their advantaged counterparts and progress to university.
- Make sure students are signed up to get free meals.
- Encourage all students to get enough sleep.
- Offer counselling.
- Set up mentoring for students and teachers.
How can I help orphans in Australia?
If you’re not able to, consider these four practical ways to help an orphan.
- Sponsor an orphan. Many orphaned kids around the world are living in poverty.
- Give aid to children who are highly vulnerable.
- Motivate your church.
- Pray.
Where does Smith family money go?
Your donations fund our learning support and mentoring programs that provide disadvantaged children with practical and emotional support outside the classroom. With targeted support they can keep up at school, participate more in class and stay engaged with their education.
Is the Smith family a Catholic charity?
The Smith Family is an Australian, independent non-profit children’s charity whose goal is to create opportunities for disadvantaged Australian children and their families and encourage them to participate more fully in society, using education as a key tool.
What is the Smith Family’s Learning for Life program?
The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program recognises that disadvantaged children need extra support to stay at school and go on to further studies or a job. Learning for Life helps create better futures for children in need by providing: financial assistance from a sponsor to help disadvantaged families afford…
How many disadvantaged students are supported by the Smith Family’s Scholarship?
The findings in this publication are an Australian first, based on data from 30,000 disadvantaged students supported through The Smith Family’s long-term educational scholarship program, Learning for Life.
What is the Smith Family Scholarship Program?
The scholarships provide families with the financial assistance they need to make the most of the learning opportunities at school. The Smith Family works through local organisations, such as Escare, who can direct families in the community to advice about and support relating to:
What is learning for life?
What is Learning for Life? The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program recognises that disadvantaged children need extra support to stay at school and go on to further studies or a job. Learning for Life helps create better futures for children in need by providing:
