April Thompson always knew it would be a struggle to land the right kind of training to be able to finish her studies in medicine.
But she's now on her way, thanks to The Smith Family's Learning for Life program, which helps disadvantaged students with their studies.
Ms Thompson is studying to be a doctor at the Australian National University, and said it was difficult for most students to land internships and jobs at the end of their studies.
But the Smith Family's Cadetship to Careers initiative has matched her with an industry partner for a paid internship that has led to a job.
"They're the kind of jobs that are really hard to get into if you don't already know someone," she said.
The Smith Family has also provided financial support throughout her studies, such as the ability to access practice exams that usually cost money.
"It's such a big conversation at the moment, how expensive it is to be a student and how increasingly people are being priced out of tertiary education," said Ms Thompson.
Now that she doesn't have to worry about some of these smaller costs, she can focus on her career as a doctor.
The Smith Family has partnered with hundreds of thousands of families experiencing disadvantage, helping students throughout their education journeys.
Chief Executive Doug Taylor said this kind of assistance was important for students.
"The families we support are continually having to make hard decisions between paying for essentials like rent and groceries, and school essentials like uniforms and laptops," he said in a statement.
Family partnership co-ordinators Emily McKerchar and Ernesto Rios said they were proud to be part of the kind of work that could change lives.
Their job is to support the families involved in the program, now more than 2300 in Canberra.
Having worked with Ms Thompson through her education journey, they said they were excited that she now volunteers at The Smith Family's learning clubs.
"It's always nice when older students come back," Mrs McKerchar said.
"It really does feel like we are part of a family."
Both Mrs McKerchar and Mr Rios were passionate about the work they do.
"Seeing the kids growing with the journey and giving them the help to achieve their goals is a wonderful experience and a really rewarding job," Mr Rios said.
The Smith Family has launched its 2024 Christmas Appeal, hoping to raise $4.91 million to continue providing support to the families they look after, and to allow even more families into the program.
