Kids across Queensland are back at school. While the majority of kids are enjoying the playground and catching up with friends, others like Jack* are filled with anxiety and stress.

Having relocated from North Queensland to Brisbane, being the new kid at school is not the only thing making Jack feel uneasy. Jack was also diagnosed with severe depression.

Jack comes from a disadvantaged family. His mum is a single parent who struggles daily to make ends meet. She’s the primary carer for his three younger brothers, all of whom have autism. Jack’s mum just couldn't cope and care for him too.

Feeling neglected by his own family affected Jack immensely. Without the support of people like you, kids like Jack don’t have a fair go in life.

In Australia, more than one in six kids under the age of 15 are living below the poverty line. And kids growing up in disadvantaged homes are two to three years behind their more advantaged peers when it comes to academic capability.

Please donate today and you’ll give disadvantaged kids the opportunity to obtain a solid education. Your generosity will equip them with uniforms, shoes, tuition fees, laptops, school supplies and more.

Thankfully, Jack’s aunt Suzy* decided to act and took Jack under her custody. She relocated him to Brisbane to improve his education and mental wellbeing. When he arrived at his aunty's home, his only possessions were a plastic bag with clothes and a pair of beaten shoes.

After purchasing essential items including a bed and clothing, his aunty struggled to provide Jack with the school essentials Jack needed to obtain an education.  

That’s when Suzy decided to reach out to Variety – the Children’s Charity for help.

Thanks to supporters like you, Jack received a chance to succeed in life. He was granted a laptop, printer, uniforms and shoes, together with tuition fees.

Without early intervention, Aussie kids could fall so far behind that it’s almost impossible to catch up. Donate today towards the Variety Back to School appeal.

* Names and images have been changed to protect the identities of the people we helped.