Children’s education charities in Australia
We are one of the oldest charities in Australia dedicated to giving children a brighter future. Learn more about our education programs and donate today to make a difference.
When you donate to an education charity in Australia, you provide the gift of learning and the hope of a brighter future. As one of the oldest charities in the country, Save the Children Australia’s education programs reach children worldwide who might otherwise be prevented from reaching their full potential.
View our global initiatives here and keep reading to learn how we’re tackling problems with education in Australia.
What do youth education charities do in Australia?
Our Global Education Team works across five main areas in more than 117 countries. In Australia, Save the Children delivers its work under the name ‘54 Reasons’. Here are examples of how your support allows us to help with these five areas domestically:
Early child care and development
Our programs focus on the early stages of a child’s education, ensuring they receive the best start in life. The largest of these, Play2Learn helps around 10,000 kids and their parents every year from isolated and disadvantaged communities to get access to safe and supportive playgroups. This provides young children across Australia with opportunities to learn and socialise safely that otherwise wouldn’t be able to, which is crucial in early development.
Basic education
The Hands on Learning program supports the social and emotional development of young people through practical, out-of-classroom experiences. Hands on Learning is available in over 130 schools across Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and Queensland, providing students with the opportunity to discover their talents and achieve success.
School health and nutrition
An important part of ensuring marginalised communities don’t get left behind by inequalities in the education system is our work supporting Indigenous education as a charity in Australia. We help young people, particularly from Aboriginal and migrant communities in Western Australia, through early intervention and prevention programs. Our initiatives include youth workers, night patrols, and leadership camps that help young people develop resilience and positive life skills, reducing the unhealthy outcomes of those facing problems at home or in school such as substance abuse and homelessness, and helping these young people develop into healthy and happy adults. Our programs have reached over 1,100 young people since 2009, significantly reducing offending rates and increasing engagement with education and employment.
Education research
Save the Children conducts extensive research to understand the challenges children are facing and to advocate for policies that improve their lives. Our reports, often produced in collaboration with partner organisations, highlight the impact of our work and the importance of ensuring that governments hear the voices of the most marginalised children. As well as publishing these reports, through ‘Our Voice’ we’re directly connecting young people with a platform to be heard by community stakeholders and decision-makers on issues that affect them, such as in the wake of humanitarian crises.
Education in emergencies
In emergency situations, education can often be disrupted to the detriment of children’s development. We often establish temporary learning centres and provide safe environments for children to continue their education for children affected by conflicts such as in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and those in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Here in Australia, through our Journey of Hope program more than 5,000 children impacted by the 2019 and 2020 bushfires were able to process and understand their emotions, mitigating long-term impacts and accelerating recovery after traumatic events.
Give now to help protect children most at risk
Supporting charities like Save the Children that focus on children's education in Australia and abroad can make a significant difference. By working in partnership with local communities, governments, NGOs, corporate partners, and individual donors, we can reach more children more effectively.
Join our mission by becoming a monthly donor or making a single donation today.