With one in six Australian children growing up in disadvantage, a major new fundraising drive has launched to ensure vulnerable students do not start the new school year without essential supplies.
The Officeworks Back to School Appeal, in partnership with The Smith Family, aims to raise $1 million by early February to support more than 1,400 students. The funds will provide children on The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program with uniforms, shoes, camps, excursions and personalised support.
The appeal addresses a critical gap in the education system, where financial hardship often leads to students feeling excluded or falling behind.
Officeworks Managing Director John Gualtieri emphasised that the right equipment can change a child’s entire outlook on school.
“At Officeworks, we believe that every child should have equal access to education. We know that having the right supplies and support around them, can be the difference between a child feeling left out, or walking into the classroom feeling confident, included and ready to learn,” Gualtieri said.
For parents like Melita, a single mother caring for her daughter Audrina as well as her own mother, nieces and nephews, the support has been a lifeline during tough financial times.
“When I connected with The Smith Family, I was a single mum… I was struggling financially at the time and was just making ends meet on a casual wage. The Smith Family was there to support us through Audrina’s Learning for Life sponsorship,” Melita said.
“My number one wish for Audrina is to be happy and follow her heart and passions. I want her to beat the past barriers our family members have faced, and The Smith Family is helping her do that.”
The partnership between the retailer and the charity has spanned 13 years, raising over $10.6 million and supporting more than 15,800 students.
Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor said the long-term data proves that early intervention works.
“Early support and intervention in a young person’s education can have a lasting impact that changes their future. We know that 85% of Learning for Life students were engaged in employment, education, or training two and a half years after leaving school,” Taylor said.
“It’s amazing to see the genuine impact of our programs and hear first-hand from parents who say, ‘this has changed the confidence of my child’, and that’s exactly what we aim to do.”
The appeal is currently active and will run until Sunday, 8 February 2026. Shoppers can donate online, in-store, or by purchasing a box of bounce balls.
“By working together, we can help break the cycle of poverty through the power of learning, and that’s why we’re calling on Australians to once again to support the Appeal – because a small act like adding a donation at the checkout, or buying a box of bounce balls, can help make a big difference in a child’s life,” Gualtieri said.
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