The Smith Family, a national children’s charity, launched its Winter Appeal on May 20 to raise $3.5 million by June 30, for the ongoing support of thousands of disadvantaged children across the country.

This year’s Appeal highlighted the vulnerability experienced by the 1 in 10 Australian children living in disadvantage, especially when they are at school and struggling to fit in and keep up with their classmates.

Our Appeal brought attention to the isolating effects of disadvantage on children, and the fact that they often start school behind, slip further and further back and are at risk of being in poverty in the long-term.

It is heartening that this message struck a chord with so many people in the community, who responded with great generosity to The Smith Family, ensuring we exceeded our Winter Appeal target and raised more than $3.7 million for disadvantaged children.

I would like to thank each and every individual who made a donation, and let them know that their help will have a direct, lasting impact on more than 9,000 disadvantaged children in Australia, helping them to succeed at school and create a better future for themselves.

I’m writing to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Victorians for their tremendous support of The Smith Family’s 2015 Winter Appeal.

The Smith Family, a national children’s charity, launched its Winter Appeal on May 20 to raise $3.5 million by June 30, for the ongoing support of thousands of disadvantaged children across the country.

This year’s Appeal highlighted the vulnerability experienced by the 1 in 10 Australian children living in disadvantage, especially when they are at school and struggling to fit in and keep up with their classmates.

Our Appeal brought attention to the isolating effects of disadvantage on children, and the fact that they often start school behind, slip further and further back and are at risk of being in poverty in the long-term.

It is heartening that this message struck a chord with so many people in the community, who responded with great generosity to The Smith Family, ensuring we exceeded our Winter Appeal target and raised more than $3.7 million for disadvantaged children.

I would like to thank each and every individual who made a donation, and let them know that their help will have a direct, lasting impact on more than 9,000 disadvantaged children in Australia, helping them to succeed at school and create a better future for themselves.

An important funding increase will benefit community learning organisations across Victoria. The increase through the Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board, would see funding rise by nearly $2 million to $17.8 million, to deliver pre-accredited training programs in 2016.

This means that from January 1 next year, the hourly pre-accredited subsidy rate will rise from $7.19 per hour to $8.20.

This is only an interim measure, to correct the funding inequity in Victoria. The VET Funding Review, which is already underway, will determine a fairer, more equitable funding model for training in the state.

ACFE Board Acting Chair Ron Wilson said the higher hourly subsidy rate is a critical element of the ACFE Board’s strategy to support Learn Local organisations to deliver quality education and training that engages with learners who face disadvantage. 

There are more than 300 Learn Local organisations in Victoria, which deliver high-quality education and training in community-based settings to adults of all ages.  To find your nearest Learn Local, go to learnlocal.org.au