Conversations with The Smith Family – Details, episodes & analysis

Jesse King, a descendant of the Waanyi people, has spent his life in and around classrooms – first as the child of a teacher, then as one himself. Today, he’s a policy leader and advocate, helping young people thrive as the Aurora Education Foundation’s Head of Impact and Data, and as a member of The Smith Family's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Advisory Group.  

In this conversation with Doug Taylor, Jesse shares a fresh perspective on Closing the Gap and why redefining success in education matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. He also talks about his area of passion – embedding Indigenous Knowledges into STEM – and the benefits this can bring. 

CREDITS 

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family  

Guest: Jesse King, Head of Impact and Data, Aurora Education Foundation 

Audio production: Mylk Media  

GET IN TOUCH 

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au 

Connect with us on: 

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia 

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus 

LinkedIn @the-smith-family 

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eddie Woo is one of Australia’s most well-known educators, reaching millions through his YouTube channel, Wootube, and inspiring students and teachers alike with his passionate, human-centred approach to learning. Behind the online success is a teacher deeply committed to equity and making a positive difference in the lives of the students he teaches. 

In this conversation, Eddie reflects on what keeps him in the classroom, how to connect with disengaged students and the small moments that can shape a life. He also addresses the teacher shortage, how to bridge learning gaps in maths and why he's excited about AI for teaching and learning. 

CREDITS 

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family  

Guest: Eddie Woo, award-winning maths teacher, author and creator of Wootube 

Audio production: Mylk Media  

GET IN TOUCH 

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au 

Connect with us on: 

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia 

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus 

LinkedIn @the-smith-family 

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of building trusted partnerships with families to support their child’s education.

The conversation draws on the experiences of Ben Blowers, who has worked directly with families on The Smith Family's Learning for Life program over the past five years.

Ben shares insights into how The Smith Family engages with parents, offering not just financial and program support, but the personal support needed to help children thrive at school. He also highlights the challenges families are facing right now and their resilience in overcoming barriers.

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Guest: Ben Blowers, Learning for Life Team Leader, The Smith Family

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this important episode for Anti-Poverty Week, we meet James Manton, an alumni of The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, who shares his deeply personal story of growing up in disadvantage, the impact it had on his education and how the right support at the right time helped him turn his life around.

James also offers valuable insights into how our society can better support young people experiencing poverty and how he's now giving back as a volunteer mentor to make a difference in another young person's life. 

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Guest: James Manton, Learning for Life Alumni

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the lead-up to Anti-Poverty Week, this conversation explores what poverty looks like in modern Australia and how digital poverty is leaving young people experiencing disadvantage further behind in education and employment opportunities. 

Caroline McDaid, CEO of WorkVentures, shares insights into what can be done to bridge this digital divide and how organisations are working to ensure every young person has the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. 

Caroline is also the NSW co-chair of Anti-Poverty Week, alongside The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor.

Actions you can take this Anti-Poverty Week to help young Australians in need: 

• Support the call to end child poverty in Australia
• Support The Smith Family’s Digital Learning Essentials program
• Learn how your organisation can donate technology through WorkVentures

CREDITS 

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family 

Guest: Caroline McDaid, CEO, WorkVentures 

Audio production: Mylk Media 

GET IN TOUCH 

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au 

Connect with us on: 

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia 

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus 

LinkedIn @the-smith-family 

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Volunteers play a vital role in shaping our communities, yet volunteering rates in Australia are in decline.

In this conversation, we hear from Mark Pearce, CEO of Volunteering Australia, about the changing nature of volunteering and efforts to revitalise volunteering for the future.

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Guest: Mark Pearce, CEO, Volunteering Australia

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, we feature highlights from our recent webinar, exploring how we can collectively support more young Australians to achieve success at school and beyond.

Currently, one in four young Australians aren't completing year 12 or the equivalent – and the rate is much higher for young people experiencing disadvantage. Yet we know that higher educational attainment is associated with positive social and economic outcomes.

This episode includes valuable insights from The Smith Family's Head of Research and Advocacy, Anne Hampshire, on our ongoing research into post-school pathways with over 2,000 young Australians, and a personal story from Cindy, a tertiary student on our Learning for Life program, who offers her perspective on what young people need to make a positive transition from school to further study or work. 

Plus, you’ll hear from our panellists, who share their views on ways to address the recent declines in school completion rates and ensure all young people are ready for a fast-changing labour market:

·     Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, Chancellor of Western Sydney University;

·     Christine Cawsey AM, Principal of Rooty Hill High School and a Board member at The Smith Family; and

·     Dr Anthony Mann, Senior Policy Analyst, Directorate for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

You can watch the full webinar here.

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're meeting two award-winning primary school principals who see firsthand the challenges and hopes of young people experiencing disadvantage.

Alison Forthuber and Rachel Armer have been educators for more than two decades, leaving an indelible footprint on thousands of young people over that time.

In this conversation, Alison and Rachel share their passion for education, their inspiring approaches to teaching and the importance of community connections to positively impact young lives. They also discuss the challenges facing students and educators today, and what gives them hope for the future.

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Guests: Alison Forthuber, Principal of Bellambi Public School, and Rachel Armer, Assistant Principal of Warilla North Public School

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philanthropy has been a mainstay of The Smith Family's history, helping to transform the lives of thousands of young Australians through education.

In this conversation, we welcome Shamal Dass, a renowned expert in philanthropy and social impact, to explore the world of philanthropic giving and how people and organisations can make a meaningful difference in their communities.

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Guest: Shamal Dass, Head of Family Advisory and Philanthropic Services, JBWere

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inequality in Australia has grown and social connection is on the decline. How can governments and charities work together to support young people and strengthen our communities for a better future?

We head to Parliament House for this conversation with The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment, addressing education reform, the future of volunteering, philanthropic giving and more.

CREDITS

Host: Doug Taylor, CEO, The Smith Family

Guest: The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP

Audio production: Mylk Media

GET IN TOUCH

Learn more about The Smith Family: thesmithfamily.com.au

Connect with us on:

Facebook @TheSmithFamilyAustralia

Instagram @thesmithfamilyaus

LinkedIn @the-smith-family

The Smith Family acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which this podcast is made and their continuing connection to Culture and Country. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.