Back-to-school appeal addresses education inequality for Aussie students

EducationDaily
The Smith Family CEO says the need to bridge the digital divide in Australian classrooms is part of the education inequality the organisation's Back to School Appeal aims to tackle.

Nine out of 10 parents and carers of students supported by The Smith Family are worried
they will not be able to afford all items their children need for school this year, a Smith Family survey has found.

The results from the charity’s annual Pulse Survey highlight the severity of education inequality and the barriers faced by children living in families experiencing poverty.

The survey’s findings reveal the third year in a row that nearly 90 per cent of parents and carers surveyed said they were worried about being able to afford the essentials their children need to be able to make the most of their education.

The Smith Family CEO, Doug Taylor, says 1.2 million children and young people in Australia are experiencing poverty through no fault of their own.

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“Poverty can have a profound and damaging effect on a child’s educational outcomes, with
long-term consequences for their health, career and life prospects,” says Taylor.

“It’s alarming to hear so many families are concerned about not being able to afford what
children need for their learning this school year.”

For the nine out of 10 respondents worried about covering the costs of everything for the school year, their biggest concerns are children missing out on:

  • digital devices needed for schoolwork (54.8 per cent)
  • educational activities outside of school (45.8 per cent)
  • internet access at home needed for schoolwork (20.3 per cent) – an increase from 16.6 per cent in 2023
  • uniforms or shoes (42.1 per cent)
  • school excursions (38 per cent) – an increase from 32 per cent in 2023.

The Smith Family’s Back to School Appeal aims to secure sponsors to support another 15,000 students nationally through the charity’s flagship Learning for Life program, which currently supports 67,000 young people. The help of sponsors will provide Australian students experiencing disadvantage with vital financial assistance for school essentials. Taylor says digital access is of particular importance.

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“Sponsors enable children and support families who are digitally excluded to afford necessities such as a laptop and reliable home internet connection – so necessary for education participation today,” he says.

“Unfortunately, 30 per cent of students on our Learning for Life program are digitally excluded but we aim to change this so that every student we help can have full digital access.

“It’s an ambition that can be achieved through the support of generous sponsors supporting
these children and young people over the long-term.”

The Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Commission (JSA) (formerly the National Skills
Commission) predicts nine out of 10 jobs by the end of 2026 will require post-secondary school qualifications.

Taylor says the JSA forecast emphasises the importance of ensuring children and young people experiencing disadvantage remain engaged with school and complete Year 12.

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“The increased cost of living has certainly impacted every family budget. But it has compounded issues that already existed for families we support. I can’t say it enough: education is one of the most powerful change agents for breaking the cycle of generational poverty,” Taylor says.

“With the right support at the right time, students can overcome the obstacles that disadvantage puts in their way and be justly rewarded for their efforts.”

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