Paying it forward

Life has come full circle for Alisha McLuckie, who is determined to break the cycle for the 1.2 million Aussie kids living in poverty.

A FORMER BENEFICIARY of The

Smith Family’s Learning for Life program – which enables Australian children in poverty to keep up with their peers in the education system – Alisha McLuckie, 34, always knew she’d pay her luck forward.

Having gone on to train as a primary school teacher, today she is a Family Partnerships Coordinator for the charity, a role that involves supporting the education of 316 families in Logan, Queensland.

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, it had a particularly devastating effect on those families. “Things were unstable and hard already, this has just added complexity,” Alisha says. “You have got kids who may not have the most settled home and families who have not had education themselves who are being handed that teacher role. Some not having digital access is also having a huge impact at the moment.

“Schools have provided some great resources but a lot of the families don’t have the skills or resources to be able to educate their children. A lot of our families don’t have the data or the devices to be involved.”

Currently, Alisha is working with all her families – starting first with those whose children are completing Year 12 – to make sure they have the extra help they need outside of that supplied by the school system. She’s ensuring all kids have access to the internet and digital technology so they continue their studies, and checking that all family members have support for their mental health.

“I spoke to one 18-year-old student who was very anxious because she had organised all these great opportunities, including traineeships and work experience, which have now been postponed,” Alisha says. “We don’t want her to give up or be disheartened.

“This crisis has really highlighted that there is such a divide in society when it comes to education in the home. It can unravel really quickly. Our students have goals and dreams to achieve so many great things in their lives, like becoming doctors and lawyers, and we don’t want them to lose sight of that. It’s important to inspire them and make sure they come out the other end.”

And it’s for that reason that Alisha wants to encourage Australians who can dig deep to consider sponsoring a disadvantaged child today. Your sponsorship ensures that child receives a Learning for Life scholarship – an initiative that supports the family with everything from school books to reading programs, after-school activities, mentorships and more.

Visit thesmithfamily.com.au

“This crisis has highlighted that there is a divide.”