Thousands of volunteers making a world of difference for children in need

This year marks 30 years of National Volunteer Week [20–26 May] and to celebrate, children’s education charity The Smith Family is acknowledging the world of difference its volunteers make on the lives of Australian children in need.

Last year, more than 8,000 Smith Family volunteers donated an estimated 410,700 hours of service – the equivalent of $12.1 million – to help provide critical education support to tens of thousands of disadvantaged children and their families.

Thanks to this immense support – which includes nearly 5,000 volunteers working directly with students as trained mentors, tutors and reading buddies – The Smith Family has been able to bring its life-changing learning programs to more young people, across more Australian communities, than ever before.

Lauren Stocker, National Manager for Volunteering at The Smith Family, said the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week – Making a world of difference – perfectly epitomises the impact, diversity and scope of contribution of the thousands of everyday Australians who continue to donate their time and talent.

“Volunteers engage with The Smith Family in so many different ways, and the impact is immense. Whether these generous individuals are in administrative support roles or directly involved as volunteer mentors and tutors in our learning programs, our staff members see first-hand the effects of their generosity on a daily basis.

“In addition, The Smith Family has the tremendous support of dozens of corporate partners whose staff regularly volunteer their time, as well as more than 15,000 women who make up the VIEW Club network around the country. Each of these individuals are great advocates for what we do and the value of education.”

Casting an eye to the future, Ms Stocker said ongoing volunteer engagement will be more important than ever, as the charity aims to reach even more Australian children living in disadvantage.

“With one in six Australian children and young people[1] currently living below the poverty line, the growing need for more volunteers, throughout our many communities, is critical,” she said.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation; we simply couldn’t do our work without them. So if anyone is interested in getting involved, I would tell them not to hesitate!

“Currently we have a really diverse array of volunteer options available – ranging from opportunities for people who want direct interaction with students participating in our programs to those who can offer a range of skills that will support our broader operations. There is something to suit everyone’s interests, talents and time constraints.

“Even for those who may consider themselves too busy, our online mentoring program iTrack only requires an hour a week and is a unique way to help build a young person’s aspirations, keep them engaged at school and guide them in reaching their career goals.”

The Smith Family engages volunteers from all different ages, cultural backgrounds and areas of expertise – with many people volunteering for a number of years across a variety of different roles. Ms Stocker said a big reason for this was the inclusive culture of The Smith Family, as well as the personal benefits experienced by volunteers themselves.

“We know through feedback from our volunteers that they find supporting The Smith Family a tremendously rewarding experience. Community volunteering has been shown to increase confidence, self-esteem, wellbeing and sense of purpose – and getting involved with a charity like The Smith Family offers a unique opportunity to unite with passionate, like-minded people to make a positive and meaningful impact on young people’s lives,” she said.