The Smith Family announced its 2026 Back to School Appeal on 8 January 2026, aiming to secure more than 3,500 new sponsors for its Learning for Life program. The charity’s survey found substantial school-cost worries among parents and carers whose children are supported by the program; those results describe that group, not Australian families overall.
What the appeal announced
The Smith Family’s January 2026 appeal sought over 3,500 new sponsors for Learning for Life, its education-support program. The announcement was made on 8 January 2026. It is a dated appeal announcement, not confirmation that the appeal is still accepting donations on the same terms. The Smith Family’s announcement
What supported families said about school costs
The Smith Family’s 2025–26 Pulse Survey gathered responses from more than 1,100 parents and carers whose children are supported through Learning for Life. The figures below apply to those respondents; they are not independent national estimates of school costs or of all Australian families. The Smith Family’s survey report
- School essentials: 85.3% worried about affording all their children’s school essentials for 2026.
- Digital access: 56% thought their children might miss out on a digital device needed for schoolwork.
- Uniforms and shoes: 40.8% were concerned they could not afford them.
- Activities: 43.9% said their children could miss out on educational activities outside school, while 35.8% were concerned about excursions.
- Recent pressure: 58.1% said it was hard or very hard to afford school items in 2025. A further 51.9% said rising everyday costs such as groceries, energy and rent made it harder.
Doug Taylor, The Smith Family’s CEO, said that not having the correct shoes or uniform can make students feel different and affect their confidence. He also said a lack of devices can prevent students from fully participating in education. These are Taylor’s statements in the charity’s appeal release, not independently measured findings about cause and effect. The Smith Family’s announcement
The Tool Desk
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- 45 PIECE SET: Bulk pack contains everything your K-12 students need to get organized & start the school year off right
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: 5 # 2 pencils, pencil sharpener with lid cover, canvas pencil case, 5 ink pens (black, red, & blue ink), 5 (primary colors) colored pencils, 3 highlighters, 4 paper pocket folders, non-toxic wax crayons, righty/lefty scissors, 4 art erasers, 2 1-subject notebooks, composition book, 2 glue sticks, & standard/metric ruler!
- BASIC SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Why shop & pay separately for 1 of every essential for your kids when you can get them all in 1 convenient packaged set?
- DETAILS: Products are safety compliant and made for kids! Highlighters are water-based, pencilsharpener collects shavings, scissors are made for little hands, “lead” pencils are graphite, ruler measures inches and centimeters both, & can be tucked into a 3-ring binder (spiral notebooks too!), rubber erasers work well as art erasers or for small/big mistakes, & zipper pencil holder stores all included accessories!
- PERFECT FOR TEACHERS & PARENTS: Whether your child is homeschooled or goes off to preschool, kindergarten, 1st-5th grades, or middle school (junior high), or even summer camp, this school supply pack is ideally suited to meet their needs as they grow & learn
What Learning for Life offers
The Smith Family says students are referred through nearly 800 partner schools and may be supported from their first year of primary school through tertiary study. Program supports described by the charity include financial assistance for education essentials such as uniforms, shoes, books, laptops and school supplies, as well as personal support from a Smith Family team member and access to out-of-school learning and mentoring programs. These are program supports, not a guarantee that every student receives a particular item or service. The Smith Family’s announcement
Ways parents can reduce back-to-school costs
For families managing school expenses, Australia’s Moneysmart guidance suggests considering a second-hand or refurbished laptop or tablet if a device is needed. A refurbished device may cost less and still do the job, but suitability depends on the schoolwork it needs to handle. There is no particular model, retailer or specification endorsed here. Moneysmart’s guidance on buying a second-hand car or other goods
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Premium Thick Paper : Thick matte stock with smooth writing texture; works with all pens, pencils and markers; resists ink bleed, curling and tearing; eye-friendly soft tones for long study and planning sessions
- Residue-Free Adhesive : Water-based glue sticks firmly to all smooth surfaces; removes cleanly without sticky residue; repositionable without damaging pages; easy to post for bible margins, planners and notebook pages
- Soft Pastel Shades : Eight muted assorted shades for elegant color-coding; ideal for prioritizing tasks, study subjects and daily plans; creates a calm tidy aesthetic for desks and personal workspaces
- Wide Application : Perfect for to do list organization, textbook annotation and office reminders; works as delicate tabs for journals, planners and school projects; suitable for home, school and office use
- Bulk Value Pack : 800 total sheets; long-lasting supply for daily use and back to school; recyclable paper fits standard pencil cases and backpacks for daily carry
Rank #4
- BUY A BIC AND WE’LL GIVE A BIC: This back to school season, when you purchase BIC highlighters, we will donate one to teachers and classrooms in need
- BACK TO SCHOOL ESSENTIAL: One 5-count pack of BIC Brite Liner Highlighters in assorted fluorescent colors, sized right for a student's backpack, pencil case, or a teacher's classroom supply drawer
- BUILT FOR STUDENTS: Chisel tip highlights broad lines across textbook passages or fine-underlines key terms in notes, making it the right tool for studying, test prep, and everyday class work
- TRANSLUCENT INK THAT STAYS OUT OF THE WAY: Ink emphasizes what matters on the page without covering the text below, so students can highlight and still read every word they marked
- LONG-LASTING INK: Each highlighter writes up to eight hours without drying out, even with the cap left off, so a 5-pack carries students from the first day of school through the end of the semester
Rank #3
- AWESOME 5-PACK: Ideal for color-coding by subject or child, this 5-pack of 1 Subject Notebooks comes in elegant shades of Pink,Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, with 70 college ruled pages per notebook.
- COLLEGE RULED: Each 8" x 10-1/2" notebook features 70 double-sided sheets with red margin lines and is 3-hole punched, allowing for easy transfer to your binder.
- CLEAN TEAR-OUT: Micro-perforated pages ensure a neat tear-out, leaving you with 10 1/2" x 7 1/2" sheets. Accommodates double-sided writing and prevents ink bleed-through from your favorite gel pens.
- DURABLE COIL LOCK SPIRAL: The sturdy coil lock spiral keeps pages securely in place and resists snags. The coated cover withstands frequent transfers in and out of backpacks, briefcases, and vehicles.
- 3-HOLE PUNCHED DESIGN: Easily organize and store your notes in a 3-ring binder, reducing clutter in your study or work area.
Rank #2
- Visible Application: Disappearing purple formula helps kids see where the glue is.
- Mess-Free: Applies smoothly and dries clear for a neat finish.
- Educator’s Choice: The #1 teacher brand, ideal for younger learners' crafting and projects.
- Safe and Non-toxic: Acid-free formula is perfect for classrooms and homes.
- Bulk Value: Contains 30, 0.24-ounce (7-gram) Elmer’s craft glue sticks.
- Start with the school task the device must support, rather than paying for features that are not needed.
- Compare the total cost and condition of refurbished and new options before buying.
- Check with the school about required software or device expectations where those requirements are unclear.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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