Helping students succeed

The Smith Family
Selfless. Positive. Compassionate.

Elizabeth Wicks has worked for The Smith Family for many years and goes above and beyond to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds get the support they need to succeed at school.

Elizabeth helps more than 400 students from schools across the local area through the Learning for Life program, which has three long-term pillars: attendance at school, completion of Year 12 and post-school engagement in work, study or training.

Elizabeth embraces the cultural diversity of the area and is mindful of the challenges newly arrived refugees may be facing.

"Working with families from such culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds requires constant training on my part so that I can ensure the programs I am offering are relevant and applicable to the families and take into consideration their unique circumstances," she says.

"I aim to create safe, fun and engaging programs for our students to be excited about being a part of."

Elizabeth often fills in when volunteers are unable to make it and does whatever she can to remove barriers to learning.

"Recently, I delivered a Digital Access Program to families living in Liverpool, providing them with a refurbished computer and a year's worth of internet access to support their schooling."

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. The Smith Family will use its grant to establish an after-school program.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here