A new home for The Connection
Social Ventures Australia (SVA) is pleased to announce that The Connection (formerly Bright Spots Schools Connection) will be transferring to The Smith Family on 10 December.
- News
2 min read
I’m excited that The Smith Family is well placed to operate and evolve The Connection. There is strong values-alignment between SVA and The Smith Family, who has a wide reach, working with over 700 partner schools in 91 communities across Australia in low SES communities. The focus of The Connection in working with school leadership complements The Smith Family’s commitment to deepening impact for the children and young people supported through their flagship Learning for Life program.”Suzie Riddell • CEO SVA
The Connection focuses on building the capacity of school leaders to create sustained impact. It brings together highly experienced educators and emerging leaders within a collaborative framework, exposing school leadership teams to best practice and innovative thinking from all over the world.
The Connection was the first SVA-developed venture initiative to address the entrenched systems challenge of inequitable education outcomes across Australian communities. Since its inception in 2013, the work has attracted significant philanthropic and government co-investment and engaged deeply committed partners. The program has a growing network of over 80 low SES schools and education sites across Australia, dedicated to addressing education inequity, reaching more than 4,500 educators and approximately 80,000 students in Australia.
SVA acknowledges the contributions and collaboration of philanthropy, government, education experts and education professional partners in developing this important and innovative Australian initiative. Access to high quality education provides increased opportunities for young people to thrive in work, life and community. The Smith Family is a national children’s education charity, reaching over 178,000 children and young people in FY24 to help them thrive now and into their futures. The Connection’s work on school leadership and influencing the school learning environment complements their Learning for Life focus on parental engagement and work with families.
We’re delighted to welcome The Connection and the new opportunities it opens for children and young people to overcome educational inequality caused by poverty. The Connection aligns well with our ambition to deepen productive partnerships with education providers as key influencers of children’s educational outcomes.”Doug Taylor • CEO The Smith Family
SVA members will formally approve the transfer at the AGM on 26 November 2024.
