The Smith Family needs to raise $4.1 million by 30 June to deliver life-changing learning and mentoring programs for nearly 10,000 children. 

This year marks 30 years since The Smith Family shifted its focus from emergency assistance to education support. VIEW, a national women’s organisation, was founded in 1960 to support the work of The Smith Family and has seen firsthand the difference the charity is making in the community. 

VIEW National President, Jan Roberts, said: “Through our volunteering and fundraising support, we’ve seen firsthand the positive, long-term difference The Smith Family’s education support is making to children in need. 

“In the last year, The Smith Family’s work has reached more than 120,000 disadvantaged young Australians in 94 communities across the country. 

“While this is to be commended, there is much more work to do. With one in seven1 Australian children and young people living below the poverty line, these young people need our support more than ever. 

“VIEW is proud to be supporting The Smith Family’s 2018 Winter Appeal and we urge the community to join us in helping thousands of young Australians get the extra support they need.”

Funds raised through The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal will help nearly 10,000 disadvantaged children access a range of literacy and numeracy programs – such as student2student, which helps young students improve their reading skills by pairing them with older ‘reading buddies’ – as well as after-school Learning Clubs and the iTrack online mentoring program.  

The Smith Family’s CEO, Dr Lisa O’Brien, said the extent of poverty in Australia is not well understood and that supporting children’s education over the long term is the most effective way to tackle this problem.  

“We don’t always see the struggles faced by these children because poverty can be hidden. We hear of children pretending to be unwell so they don’t have to worry their parents with the cost of an excursion, or they’ll start skipping school because they’re struggling to keep up in class,” Dr O’Brien said.

“That’s why we are calling on the Australian public to help us reach more children. The out-of-school learning and mentoring programs we provide give young people the skills and motivation to stay in school and see the value of finishing Year 12 to open up more opportunities for themselves. We know that if we can help students finish school, this in turn leads to better job prospects, the security of regular income and the skills to participate fully in society.”

Anyone wishing to donate to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal can phone 1800 024 069 or visit thesmithfamily.com.au/winter

The Nambucca River View Club held its monthly meeting on Monday, May 28 and the theme was ‘School Days’. VIEW members wore school uniforms and spoke on school friends that they have kept in touch with over the years. David Taylor, Principal of Bowraville Central School spoke to the meeting on changes to the school system over the years.

Members also donated a large supply of stationery items and these will be given to the Smith Family for the Learning for Life Program.

Currently we have lots of activities planned for the coming months including: