The Smith Family

What do families need from the systems designed to support their children? Today, Wendy Field (Head of Evidence and Impact) and Sulabha Pawar (Group Manager, Programs & Strategic Initiatives) presented our submission on the Thriving Kids initiative to a House of Representatives Inquiry. The initiative is an opportunity to redesign how systems support families and children with developmental delays, disabilities, and low/moderate needs. Our submission shares insights from our work with tens of thousands of students and families facing poverty and disadvantage, and the systemic barriers they encounter. “Our experience shows parents want the best outcomes for their kids; they often don’t know how to access the support that they need,” Wendy told the inquiry via video link. “Our submission has many quotes about the roadblocks they have experienced. Those stories are not isolated; they reflect systemic gaps that Thriving Kids can help address if it’s designed with families at the centre and delivered through trusted universal platforms.” All year round, we advocate for every child, especially those experiencing poverty and disadvantage. Because we believe in an Australia where all children can thrive at school and in life – not by chance, but by design.

Evidence drives impact, and it’s central to how we improve educational outcomes. We’re delighted to welcome Suzie Riddell to lead this important work as our new Head of Evidence and Impact. Suzie, who starts with us in December, brings expertise in using data and evidence to drive social change and a strong commitment to improving educational outcomes for children and young people. She was previously CEO of Social Ventures Australia, where she helped lead work to improve how data and evidence informed policy, shifted funding and changed practice across the social sector. She’s well known for joining the dots across complex systems, bringing people together around a purpose, and leading with clarity, care and a focus on results. Suzie has a Bachelor of Business (Honours) from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Welcome, Suzie – we’re excited to achieve great things together.

Too many Australians, including students, are excluded from the digital world because of their families’ financial situation. The latest Australian Digital Inclusion Index, released today, shows that while there’s been progress, 1 in 5 Australians are still digitally excluded or highly excluded – with cost remaining one of the major barriers. We see the impact of this every day. 📉 44% of young people in our Learning for Life program don’t have access to a digital device connected to the internet at home 💻 For students, being digitally connected is vital. Digital skills are now as critical as literacy and numeracy 💰 Families are having to choose between costs like rent and groceries, and essentials such as the laptops their children need for school We’re working hard to help. Since 2023, we’ve provided over 9,000 laptops to students, and we’re committed to ensuring all 71,800 students on our Learning for Life program are digitally included. Because when young people are digitally included, they’re not just better equipped for school, they’ve got what they need to chase the jobs they want, build the future they imagine and help create a more competitive and innovative Australia. And that’s good for all of us. https://bit.ly/4nPdbSw RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, Telstra, ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society

Today we join organisations across Australia in celebrating International Volunteer Managers Day. We recognise the leaders who create meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable volunteering experiences. This year’s theme, Be Bold. Make Change, calls on volunteer managers to challenge old habits, innovate, and adapt to the evolving ways people want to give their time. Julia, a Communities for Children Project Officer, embodies this spirit. Her proudest achievement was leading 48 volunteers at the recent Fairfield Children’s Week Event, which drew over 2,800 attendees. Her strategic approach and focus on relationships helped every volunteer feel valued and connected. “Volunteers are people first. They have their own reasons for helping out, and it’s important to create an experience where they feel valued and know they’re making a difference ” she says Thank you, Julia, along with all our volunteer managers, for your excellent leadership and commitment

How important is it for students to see careers in action? Year 12 students from Miller Technology High School recently took part in The Smith Family’s Industry Engagement Activity, which gives young people a firsthand look at the world of work. Thanks to the generous support of Decode Group, a leading Sydney construction company, students spent the day on site learning about the construction process and what a future career in the field could look like. Emil Moussa, Project Director at Decode Group, says, "It was great to have the students on site and show them what a career in construction really looks like. Getting hands-on experience and guidance early can make a big difference when deciding their future paths." Daniela Biviano, The Smith Family’s Career & Industry Pathways Manager, says, “We value the opportunities that our supporters across the country provide young people through our range of career activities to learn about different businesses, industries and the job opportunities that are available to them that assist them to make informed decisions about their future pathway.”

We’re pleased to welcome Scott Williams as our new Head of Digital and Transformation. Scott, who has three decades of experience across corporates, startups, and the not-for-profit sector, joined us in May last year as Group Manager, Agile Delivery. In that role, he’s led key improvements to our business agility, delivery governance and technology strategy. He has also helped unify technology, cyber, data and AI under one strategic vision. His previous roles include Chief Operating Officer at Stone & Chalk, Group Director of Strategy & Transformation Consulting at Genpact, and Senior Manager of Innovation & Agility at IAG. His hallmark is building systems that help people and technology work better together. Scott is the author of The Atomic Innovation Handbook. He also advises executives and boards – including not-for-profits such as For the Love of Dogs Academy – on enterprise agility, operational uplift, and digital transformation. Congratulations, Scott. It’s great to have you leading the next chapter of our digital transformation. (📷 This is Scott on the right with our CEO, Doug Taylor)

For the early mornings. ☀️ The thoughtful explanations. 📝 The encouraging words. 🤗 The late nights spent marking. 📚 The weekends devoted to planning. 🕰️ The second chances. 🔄 The support when things get hard. 💪 The care beyond the classroom. ❤️ The way you notice when something isn’t right. 👀 The laughter that lightens the room. 😄 The conviction that learning can change a life. 🌱 And the unwavering belief in what’s possible for every child. ✨ Teachers, we see you. And we’re so grateful. 💛 Happy Australian World Teachers’ Day. Thank you for everything you do. 🙏

What do wise grandmothers, community voices and unexpected allies have in common? They’re all part of the recipe that goes into creating social change that sticks, says Professor Kristy Muir – social impact leader and CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation. Kristy joins Doug Taylor, our CEO, in the latest episode of our podcast, Conversations with The Smith Family, to chat about what it takes to create lasting change so children, families and communities can thrive. It’s a great convo covering all this 👇 and more: ✨ The power of education 👂 Listening to different perspectives 🤝 What makes collaboration work 🎯 Leading with purpose 🌱 And how to be a good ancestor Catch the full episode here: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/47gCPdR Spotify: https://bit.ly/4ntDPjk YouTube: https://bit.ly/3JyOw6i

This month marks five years of partnership between The Smith Family and Ampol – a collaboration built on shared values, a commitment to community, and a belief in the power of education to change lives. Through the Ampol Foundation, Ampol helps unlock brighter futures for young Australians experiencing disadvantage. Their support of our Learning for Life program currently enables 431 students to access long-term educational support, providing them with financial support for school essentials, access to tailored learning and mentoring programs, and a team member who stays in touch throughout their educational journey. Ampol’s support is made possible not only through their deep commitment to the community, but also thanks to the generosity of their suppliers and customers, who come together each year for a national fundraising campaign. Thank you, Ampol, for your incredible support over the past five years, and for the impact we continue to make together.

The results are in! This September, Cool Ridge’s Thirst for Change campaign raised an outstanding $88,000 through sales of its 600ml water product — a powerful contribution to helping young Australians in need. Over the past six years, this partnership has raised more than $1.8 million to support students on our Learning for Life program, which provides vital educational support to help young people succeed at school and build brighter futures. We’re incredibly grateful to Cool Ridge and everyone who chose to make a difference with their purchase. Your support is helping young people impacted by poverty to change the trajectories of their lives. Our CEO, Doug Taylor, shares his thanks and reflects on the impact of this incredible partnership in a special wrap-up video. Learn more about our partnership with Cool Ridge: https://bit.ly/4hq0Baq #learntodaychangetomorrow #education