MORNINGTON VIEW Club members are calling on the community to dig deep and support Anti-Poverty Week (12-18 October) and help end child poverty across Australia through education and local action. The club hoped this year more people can sponsor a child or donate to the national children’s education charity The Smith Family.
Mornington VIEW Club president Diane Latessa said with one in six children in Australia growing up in poverty, there had never been a more important time to support a child with their education. “Families are having to make impossible choices about how to spend limited resources, this could be prioritising rent over sending their child on a school excursion, being able to afford school books or essential digital learning tools,” she said.
“A laptop and reliable internet access at home are now vital for any child’s education. No child should have to miss out on the essentials for their education, and this is why VIEW is so passionate about supporting the work of The Smith Family.”
An independent non-profit children’s charity, The Smith Family helps children experiencing disadvantage to overcome the educational inequality they face. “They support students for the duration of their education, and this helps them build the confidence and skills needed to create better futures for themselves.”
Mornington VIEW Club currently helps eight children through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life education support program, which provides families with long-term educational, financial, and personal help so children have all the essentials needed to make the most of their education.
VIEW Clubs, a national women’s organisation with more than 13,000 members raised more than $1.5m last year to support The Smith Family’s important work, and they currently sponsor more than 1800 students on the Learning for Life scholarship program. Additionally, VIEW Clubs this year have also raised more than $182,000 for The Smith Family’s digital learning essentials program, that aims to close the digital divide and allow students fully participate in their schooling.
While fundraising played a vital role in helping children in need, Latessa said they were also encouraging women of all ages to donate their time and skills by joining a VIEW Club. “Members have a unique opportunity to provide hands-on support to children experiencing disadvantage, while also forming meaningful and lasting community relationships,” she said. Recent activities have included volunteering as learning club tutors, fundraising events such as monthly lunches, sausage sizzles, fashion parades, outings and special events, with a large element of fun and friendship.
To find out more about joining VIEW, visit view.org.au or call 1800 805 366.
To sponsor a child or donate to The Smith Family, visit thesmithfamily.com.au or call 1800 633 622.
First published in the Mornington News – 23 September 2025
