This week, The Smith Family celebrates the role of volunteers in strengthening local communities and improving the lives of disadvantaged students through education.
On this year’s sector-wide National Volunteer Week (19-25 May), with the theme ‘Connecting Communities’, children’s education charity The Smith Family acknowledges the role that volunteers play in fostering a strong sense of community for students.
“The idea that it takes a village to raise a child is reflected in our volunteers’ work,” The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor said. “Bringing together different people within a community, outside of a student’s immediate family, to offer support and guidance with their education makes a world of difference to their confidence and learning outcomes.”
In 2024, almost 5,000 individuals volunteered with The Smith Family, totalling more than 123,000 hours of service donated.
The charity also acknowledges the contribution of over 13,000 VIEW Club members in communities across the country to its work, who volunteered over 70,000 hours last year. VIEW Clubs offer a wonderful opportunity for women to build lasting connections within their local communities.
With this immense support, The Smith Family has been able to bring its life-changing learning programs to more young people across more Australian communities than ever before.
“Volunteers are integral to our work, and thanks to their ongoing support, we’re able to continue to grow our reach and improve the lives of young people experiencing disadvantage,” Taylor added.
Twenty-two-year-old Luke Tarola from Werribee, VIC, is a university student and maths tutor who volunteers at his local Learning Club. He was drawn to the opportunity as a tangible way of helping students.
“I’ve lived in Werribee my whole life, and I wanted to help students who haven’t had access to the same opportunities as those from wealthier areas. I’ve always valued education, so being able to impart that onto other students is rewarding, and seeing them respond positively to learning is really exciting,” Tarola said.
In Newcastle, NSW, former science teacher Pamela Forbes began volunteering at her local Learning Club when she moved to the area, as a way to interact with her community and stay involved with a young person’s perspective of what’s happening in the world.
“As a former teacher, I believe a good education is really important. I think it’s beneficial for children to mix with adults, both young and old, other than their family. They need to experience different ideas, perspectives and ways people do things,” Forbes said. “Volunteering gives me a really good feeling, and it’s a great reward seeing the happiness of the students.”
The Smith Family welcomes the donation of time through various volunteering opportunities around the country. Volunteers can commit to as little as an hour a week or participate in longer-term roles. A range of opportunities is available to help children in need, such as tutoring through a local Learning Club or online reading program student2student, as well as administration roles helping the organisation’s broader operations.
“Volunteers working directly in our programs or alongside our teams in capacity-building roles – bring people together, creating inclusive and thriving communities where students can overcome adversity and reach their goals.”
To see available volunteering opportunities in your area, please visit The Smith Family’s website.
The Smith Family is currently running its annual Winter Appeal, which aims to raise almost $8 million nationally to support more children in need. Volunteers support many of the programs funded by Winter Appeal donations.
Read also: The Smith Family’s Back to School Appeal helps children in need
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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