April Mackey and Susan Williams A Start in Life Interview

April Mackey and Susan Williams A Start in Life Interview

National Aussie charity, A Start in Life is on a mission to create more Mums and help hundreds of needy young Australians in the process. So if you've always dreamt of becoming a Mum the charity has a simple solution - Adopt an Aussie! For as little as $10 a week, the Adopt an Aussie program allows you to sponsor a child from a struggling family and provide for their education needs at primary, secondary or tertiary level.

When you sponsor a young Australian through A Start in Life's Adopt an Aussie program you or mum will receive an "Adoption Pack" and regular communication updates from your student. Your sponsored young Aussie will start to feel like a part of your family and make you or your mum feel proud - proud to be supporting a child and proud to be growing Australia.

"We like to think this is an inspiring and unusual gift for mum or if you happen to be single or a couple without children, this could be a wonderful way to become defacto parents", said Susan Williams, CEO of A Start in Life.

"Our Adopt an Aussie program is a great investment in the future of our country and into the lives of little Aussies. While our country's economy might be one of the world's strongest, new research suggests many families and single parents are still turning to charities to cope with escalating costs of essentials due to the rise in household amenities such as electricity, water and food.

"It's worrying news that while big corporations and high-income earners are reaping the rewards of a booming economy, many Aussie families are living in poverty, unable to afford general amenities and essentials such as textbooks and clothes for their children," said Mrs Williams. "Through our Adopt an Aussie programme we encourage those who can to help those who can't, have a better start in life."

For a minimal weekly investment, you can start sharing in the growth and life goals of a young Australian by contributing to the cost of their essentials for education.

For those with a much smaller budget, visit www.astartinlife.org.au and purchase one of several gifts from the charity's Little Aussie Gift Tree and help one of the 500,000 Aussie kids living in poverty to have everything they need for school. Gifts start from a little at $10 ranging up to $80 with 100% of every donation going directly towards helping a young Aussie in need.

Interview with April Mackey

April Mackey, 32 is now a Freelance TV Producer (sponsored by A Start in Life for 9 years):
"I became involved in the charity as a child, after my parents split up when I was 9 and my Mother was left to raise 5 daughters. She struggled financially and we applied to A Start in Life for a helping hand. The sponsorship I received for about 9 years, across High School and into Tertiary education allowed me to participate in all the extracurricular activities I enjoyed outside of school such as drama classes, the school band and all kinds of sports. It made me feel like a normal kid. My life as we know it today would not be the same without A Start In Life. It gave me all the opportunities I needed and wanted at school and pushed me into the creative industry that I enjoy today. A Start in Life really does change lives."

Question: How did A Start in Life help you?

April Mackey: A Start in Life supported my four sisters and I through high school and tertiary education. It gave us all the same opportunities that other children had. It enabled us to participate in Drama class, play in the School band and play every possible sport. And most importantly, it made us feel normal - just like every other family at my school.


Question: How did A Start in Life make you and your family feel?

April Mackey: We weren't seen as a needy family, because A Start in Life eased the financial burden that my Mum was carrying after my father left. We were finally able to pay school fees, having been chased by the school every year previously for the $50 fee. Life was much easier with A Start in Life's help.


Question: What advice would you give to someone looking to participate in the Adopt an Aussie program?

April Mackey: I have been supporting other international charities for years, until I realised I needed to help those closer to home. I needed to help those in my own country, and I wanted to give back to the Charity that helped me so much growing up. These days, I am a sponsor through the Adopt an Aussie program. I am also an Ambassador for the Charity and speak at Charity luncheons and support A Start in Life in any way that it requires.


Question: How do you support A Start in Life now?

April Mackey: If you are looking to support a charity that gives 100% of donations back to needy families in Australia, and also allows you to have a relationship with your sponsored child, then you should visit astartinlife.org.au. You will directly make a difference to an Aussie kid, just like I once was.

Interview with Susan Williams, CEO of A Start in Life

Question: What is A Start in Life?

Susan Williams: A Start in Life is charity that for 87 years has been ensuring that many thousands of young Aussies who are the victims of financial crisis receive the essentials they need for an education. We believe that having an education will break the cycle of poverty in families and that it opens the door to a future of employment, reaching personal goals and contributing to the Australian community. We assist children from kindergarten right through school and their tertiary years of study. Our assistance is substantial ($1200 to $5000 per child per year)and for as long as it is needed during their education years or up to the age of 25. We focus on full time attendance at school, celebrating achievement and encouraging our young Aussies to be the best they can possibly be.


Question: How can Australians support A Start in Life?

Susan Williams: By supporting A Start in Life with a donation or pledge Australians can be assured that 100% of every dollar donation goes directly to the children we assist. We assist them with tuition, school uniforms, textbooks, excursions, dental and optical expenses, home or study computers and extracurricular activities like music and sport. Alternatively you join the many other Australians who have made a commitment to a little Aussie by sponsoring a student in our Adopt an Aussie program.


Question: Why is it more important than ever to support A Start in Life, now?

Susan Williams: Since the drought, GFC and recent natural disasters, A Start in Life is receiving more than 5 times the number of applications it normally experiences. These Australians' financial crises have become extreme and we are faced with the possibility of having to create a "waiting list" for assistance. With extra support from the Australian community and in particular student sponsorship commitment, we can ensure we sustain our assistance for the time it is needed and avoid the concept of having to ask children in need of help to wait. Australia now has over 600,000 children living in poverty. Many of these children are going to school without breakfast or lunch and the essential basics for learning. They don't have the correct uniforms and shoes, meaning they lose precious self-esteem and can't participate in certain classes. These students are unable to pursue their talents, either academic or creative and this places enormous pressure on them as they try to achieve their goals. These children are the next generation of Australia. We need to ensure they are educated and have every opportunity to be all they can be.


Question: What is involved in the Adopt an Aussie program?

Susan Williams: Our Adopt an Aussie program allows you to sponsor a student and make a commitment to a specific child. Through the Adopt an Aussie program, you will be sent a profile of your young Aussie and receive regular update, letters and communications on their academic and personal progress. So many of our Sponsors have written to tell us of the reward they feel and the involvement of their family in supporting and caring for another young Aussie who is less fortunate than themselves. There is also great satisfaction in supporting our country's future through helping an Australian child to be educated. For as little as $10 a week and a few minutes online, you can create a brighter future for a young Australian.


Question: How did your childhood influence your future?

Susan Williams: I was extremely fortunate to have been encouraged throughout my childhood particularly by my teachers and coaches to be the best I could be, to aim high and to never give up. For some reason my primary school motto still keeps popping into my head ... "reach for the stars". Maybe school mottos are there for that very purpose ... a bit like setting the tone for the start in your life? I know that in whatever way children do it or see it, I also felt a need to make sure that if another child needed " a leg up" then I was there to do that. My Dad had a good job and am sure we didn't go without the essentials, but I was acutely aware of those children in my class and school who didn't have what I had. I have embraced life with both hands and made the most of each day as it has presented itself ... I know this has come from my childhood.


Interview by Brooke Hunter