Thousands of Tasmanian children are receiving critical educational support through The Smith Family, as rising living costs push more local families to the brink and make it harder for students to keep up at school.
The charity currently supports more than 4,660 students across Tasmania through its Learning for Life program, with demand surging in recent years.
Over the past five years alone, the number of participating students in the state has jumped by 83%, while partner schools have more than doubled from around 20 to about 50.
Tasmanian regional programs manager Ant Gianni said the growing need reflected the increasing pressure on families across the state.
“Students experiencing disadvantage often start school behind and by Year 9, on average, are four and a half years behind their peers from high socioeconomic backgrounds in literacy and numeracy,” he said.
“Our programs help students catch up and remain engaged with school.”
Programs like Learning Clubs are making a tangible difference in local communities, including in north-east Tasmania, where some sessions teach students cooking skills while building literacy and numeracy in a hands-on way.
“It’s much more than a donation – it’s an educational lifeline,” Gianni said.
The Tasmanian picture comes as new national research from The Smith Family highlights widespread concern about childhood poverty across Australia.
The 2026 Community Attitudes Survey found more than 80% of respondents believe providing extra support for disadvantaged students is key to breaking the cycle, while four in five say tackling childhood poverty should be a national priority.
Chief executive Doug Taylor said families are increasingly being forced to make difficult trade-offs.
“Parents are doing their best, but cost-of-living pressures are making it harder for parents to afford all the school essentials their child needs to make the most of educational opportunities,” he said.
“Many families we support are cutting back on basics like school supplies just to afford fuel.”
The survey also found most Australians believe disadvantaged students face greater challenges in keeping up with learning, staying engaged at school and participating in extracurricular activities.
For students like Jane, a Tasmanian university student who has been supported by The Smith Family since Year 9, the impact is deeply personal.
After moving from Launceston to Hobart to study, she said the charity’s support helped ease financial pressure and made the transition to university possible.
“It’s a great opportunity, and it makes a massive difference towards your education,” she said.
The Smith Family is now aiming to raise $8.2 million through its Winter Appeal to continue funding programs like Learning Clubs and support more students in Tasmania and across the country.
Taylor said continued community support would be vital.
“An investment in a student today pays dividends for all of us in the future,” he said.
To donate, visit thesmithfamily.com.au/donate.
