The Smith Family Wagga family partnership coordinator Fiona Carroll works directly with families experiencing disadvantages, to support education and has found 2021 to have been particularly challenging.

"This year I've definitely seen Wagga families affected by things like lack of digital access, increased financial stress, poor mental health, and escalating pressures on parents and caregivers especially during the lockdown," Ms Carroll said.

"We're worried as we know these issues and any potential learning that students missed due to the pandemic can cause disengagement and a lack of motivation when it comes to school."

The Smith Family surveyed its frontline team members to understand the issues most affecting students, families, and impacting childrens' engagement with education.

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Smith Family Pulse Survey findings revealed 75 per cent of family support workers had seen an impact on student's motivation to learn, three in four students at risk of disengaging, students at risk of not returning to school in 2022 and a lack of access to devices and reliable internet, to a lack of digital skills or capability as a direct result of COVID-19.

"We're working really hard to support the education of over 1200 local Wagga Wagga students on The Smith Family's Learning for Life program to ensure they keep up at school and go on to create better futures," Ms Carroll said.

"Our Learning for Life program involves providing students and their families with access to a family support worker, our learning and mentoring programs, and financial help for educational expenses."

The release of the survey coincides with the launch of The Smith Family's Christmas Appeal.

The Smith Family Christmas Appeal calls for the support of community members to help children in need this Christmas to receive the education they need.

The organisation aims to raise $4.9 million nationally to provide more than 11,600 children with access to essential learning and mentoring programs to help them stay engaged at school.

To make a donation visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au.

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