Today, across Australia, one in six children and young people are living in poverty, where even life’s basics are hard to come by. When families experience financial disadvantage, children fall behind in their learning, leaving them more vulnerable to experiencing hardship themselves later in life. Investing in the education of disadvantaged children has long-term benefits for them, their families and the communities they live in. Helping disadvantaged children participate fully in their education allows them to achieve better life outcomes overall.