Officeworks
Officeworks has been proudly working together with The Smith Family for more than a decade. As one of our major partners, we have a shared belief that by providing educational support, we can help change the lives of children in need.
Officeworks believes all young Australians should have access to a quality education and the resources they need to learn and grow.
Officeworks supports our work through its annual Back to School Appeal, a national in-store and online fundraising initiative that encourages customers to make a donation to help sponsor the education of students in our Learning for Life program.
Throughout our incredible partnership, Officeworks has raised more than $9.3 million for The Smith Family through their appeal – enough to support more than 14,000 students on Learning for Life for an entire year.
Thanks to the generosity of its customers and the support of its 9,000 strong team across 170 stores nationwide, Officeworks is empowering students like 13-year-old Brooklyn and her mum, Breeanne, to create brighter futures for themselves.
“I think a good education’s important because then you have the chance to do whatever you want to do, and better your life,” says Breeanne. “You get the chance to follow your dreams. It’s reassuring that Brooklyn’s going to have that chance. She will be set up for life.”
Brooklyn can see the impact of the support on her education, too. “I think The Smith Family has taken a lot of stress off my mum and stepdad. It helps us get school uniforms and school shoes, which really helps, and it helps us pay for camp and excursions. I’m going to camp soon, and if I didn’t get to go, I think I would feel really left out.
“My favourite subject is art because I can express my creativity and it’s a lot of fun. Art is amazing! I want to get better at it, and when I finish school, I want to be an art teacher. A lot of people have helped me in my life, so I want to help people when I grow up.
“Thank you to all the supporters of The Smith Family because you are helping me become a teacher.”
In addition to their annual appeal, Officeworks has donated 357 laptops to be repurposed for our Digital Learning Essentials program, resulting in 241 reconditioned machines being supplied to students. These refurbished laptops are provided to Learning for Life students to develop their digital skills and ensure all students are digitally included.
They also contribute to our Work Inspiration, Work Inspiration Reach Out and Learning Clubs programs, as well as enthusiastically engaging in volunteering, community fundraising and generous one off donations to support our work.
Working alongside The Smith Family and its other charity partners, Officeworks has pledged to support over 30,000 Australian students by 2025 as part of its People and Planet Positive. This goal has now been surpassed, with Officeworks having helped more than 60,000 students across Australia. Officeworks is also helping students and schools become more sustainable through its growing People & Planet Positive sustainable product ranges and a national pen recycling program. Through its Restoring Australia program, it plants two trees for every one used in paper products such as exercise books and other paper products.
The Officeworks Back to School Appeal kicks off on Friday, 27 December! If you'd like to help change a student's life, you can donate to the appeal at your local store or online before February 9, 2025.