The Smith Family

Meet Emmanouela, one of our incredible students who recently represented Australia in the Olympics! For Emmanouela, having access to the right digital tools meant she could stay on top of her schoolwork while pursuing her athletic dreams. Getting a laptop and internet access allowed her to balance school assignments with training, ensuring she could succeed both academically and in her sport. 🏅📚 Her story is a powerful reminder of how essential digital access is for students—whether in the classroom or at home. With the right support, they can chase their goals and thrive in all areas of life. Learn how our Digital Learning Essentials program helps students like Emmanouela achieve their full potential at https://bit.ly/4f4sAum

Access to an internet-connected device at home isn't just a luxury; it’s a necessity for students to succeed at school. But, with continued rising costs this year, many families facing disadvantage told us how they’ve struggled to afford the essentials their children need for their education. In our recent survey of almost 2,500 families, nearly 60% told us they’ve found it hard or very hard to pay for school supplies, with the majority putting it down to increased living costs and school expenses. Thanks to Seven Network's 7NEWS for helping us raise awareness of this important issue and our Christmas appeal to support more students in need.

Australia’s teens are among the most creative thinkers in the world, but not all of them have the same chance to build these important skills. New data from the OECD - OCDE's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) ranks Australian 15-year-olds 4th out of 64 countries for creative thinking and problem-solving. But PISA also shows that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are behind their more advantaged peers. 95% of students from high socio-economic backgrounds met the national proficiency standard, compared to 79% of students from low socio-economic backgrounds. This matters because creative thinking is seen by the OECD as an essential skill for navigating the complexities of the modern world. Creativity enables people to approach problems from new perspectives, generate innovative solutions, and adapt to changing circumstances. Creative thinking is also highly sought after by employers and critical to nations’ future economies. All young people, no matter their life circumstances, should have equal access to an education, including the opportunity to develop creative thinking skills that have never been more important. Read more about the Australian Council for Educational Research report: https://bit.ly/48rzp6G Or learn how we’re helping students overcome educational inequity caused by poverty: https://bit.ly/4fpNkfR

Building trusted partnerships with families to support their child’s education is critical to our way of working at The Smith Family. On our #podcast this week, we explore what this looks like day to day and how we engage with parents and carers, offering not just financial and program support, but the personal support needed to help children thrive at school. Our CEO Doug Taylor speaks with Ben Blowers, a Learning for Life Team Leader, about his experiences of working directly with families over the past five years. Ben also touches on the challenges families are facing right now and their resilience in overcoming barriers. Listen to this insightful conversation on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zWZRsi Or Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3zMh0oA #conversationswithTSF

Rawan, a Bachelor of Psychology student at the University of Sydney, gained invaluable skills and confidence through her Cadetship2Career placements with Macquarie Group. The hands-on experience not only enhanced her teamwork and communication but also gave her a solid foundation for future success. As Rawan encourages, participating in this program as an employer is a chance to shape future leaders. Ready to make an impact? Sign up today and give students like Rawan the opportunity to thrive. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3zKCKRB

Sara is an incredibly determined student waking up at 4:30 AM to study for her final exams. Her hard work has already paid off, with 4 early offers to study medicine – a huge step toward her dream of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon! With support from The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, Sara has received mentorship and essential resources, like a laptop, to help her excel in her studies. Learning for Life is currently helping over 67,000 students across Australia achieve their educational goals and set themselves up for a bright future. Learn more about Learning for Life at https://bit.ly/4e2U5Dk Video footage courtesy of Channel 9.

Data sharing has great potential to help reduce disadvantage and drive real change. Huge thanks to Dr Kristen Moeller-Saxone and Infoxchange for highlighting this critical issue. Our partnership with the Department for Education, South Australia brings this principle to life as it puts real-time data into the hands of our frontline teams. This allows our teams to deliver more targeted and timely support so young people facing disadvantage can make the most of their education. Thanks to Anne Hampshire, our Head of Research and Advocacy, and all the contributors to this excellent article. https://bit.ly/4hd1FhD

Thank you, Amanda, for everything you do for us! 🎉 Congratulations to all our team members who celebrated a #workmilestone in October – your dedication helps to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families.  #LearnTodayChangeTomorrow

Over 21 years, more than 61,000 participants have joined the Saver Plus program, saving over $30 million, and ANZ has provided close to $26 million in matched savings. Beyond providing matched funds, the program has been found to build participants’ financial skills and confidence, leading to a money mindset shift. 💪 Find out more about the program and read the 2024 Saver Plus Impact Report at https://bit.ly/4faE4ME

Tens of thousands of Year 12 students have began their final exams, taking one step closer to the workforce. For some, opportunities like career mentors, expos, and work experience have helped them prepare for what comes next. But for others, particularly students facing disadvantage, those opportunities have been out of reach. “Unlike their more privileged peers, they don't have connections that lead to internships and well-paid summer jobs - experiences that build confidence and help set them up for success.” Our CEO Doug Taylor explains why better career support for all students while they are still in school, is essential. This article was first published in The Canberra Times and syndicated to regional media. https://bit.ly/3BO77r4