Smith Family

The Smith Family:
helping disadvantaged kids stay in school and reach their full potential

The Smith Family is a national, independent, social enterprise committed to unlocking opportunities for financially disadvantaged families to participate more fully in society. They have been responding to the needs of Australians since 1922. The Smith Family seeks to use practical, effective programs to help families break the cycle of poverty. In so doing, they have developed an innovative preventative education program called Learning for Life.

Learning for Life provides children from financially disadvantaged families with personal support and financial assistance. A financial scholarship provides young people and their families with assistance for educational costs such as uniforms, textbooks, and excursions. Education Support Workers work with families to provide personal support, access to additional programs, and advocacy. There is currently over 22 000 students from primary to tertiary levels receiving assistance through the Learning for Life program throughout Australia.

Pearson Education Australia shares The Smith Family’s vision that education is the key to Australia’s future. Pearson Education Australia approached The Smith Family, and in late 2000, became a partner of the Learning for Life Program. The partnership’s aim is to develop programs and activities that build on the assets of Pearson Education – its people, its products, and the community in which it operates, and match these to the needs of the Learning for Life program.

Employee Involvement

• Office fundraising activities; including participation in major fundraising activities such as ‘Around the Bay in a Day’ cycling event in Victoria, Australia.
• Employees have volunteered their time to mentor tertiary students; proof-read Learning for Life report cards, and help pack and distribute Christmas hampers.

Corporate Involvement

• To support students on the Learning for Life Tertiary program, by offering a discount on their recommend Pearson Education texts.
• Supporting the student2student literacy support program, by offering The Smith Family a discount on reading materials.
• A Christmas e-card, used in lieu of printed cards, with the cost saving going to The Smith Family.
• In 2002, Pearson created the Pearson Community Awards to recognise the commitment many employees make to their local communities. In 2004, The Smith Family Committee at Pearson Education Australia was awarded one of these prestigious awards, alongside employees from the US, UK and Spain. The award resulted in Pearson donating US$2000 to The Smith Family.

The Learning for Life program in action

"Both educational and financial assistance offered by The Smith Family have played one of the biggest roles in assisting me to succeed… I probably would not have been able to do my degree without the assistance of The Smith Family as the requirements of the current course involve the purchase of numerous materials throughout the year." Past Tertiary Scholarship Student

“The Scholarship has changed my life. You believe in me, my mentor believes in me and now I believe in me.” Tertiary Scholarship Student