Acknowledging The Smith Family’s support

Master of Engineering graduate Fergie Romero is about to set off on a well-earned holiday, taking in the sights of Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Spain and the UK.

It’s come at a perfect time, just weeks after graduating from her Masters course and just a few days before she kicks off her career in Melbourne with Australia’s leading engineering consultancy firm.

There’s a sense of things coming full circle for the high-achieving student, who, along with her three sisters and one brother, has been supported by The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program since primary school. The program allows individuals and organisations to sponsor a child from a disadvantaged background in Australia, to help pay for educational expenses, such as books, uniforms and excursions. Sponsored students also benefit from a range of support programs such as tutoring, mentoring and personal development opportunities.

Ms Romero’s parents emigrated to Australia during the civil war in El Salvador and settled in Flemington.

“Mum became a single parent when I was 10, so a lot of things changed then,” she says.

“Things got harder for mum, because she had four kids to take care of, and education was always a really important thing in our family. The Smith Family program facilitated a lot of things that we wouldn’t have been able to do without their assistance.

“I did some fairly intense music study in grade six, which was how I got offered a place at University High School. I started learning the clarinet, violin and piano, and had to work really hard to get through a range of music exams within the year.

“My instruments were really expensive and fast-tracking my studies was a big financial strain on mum. She was working two jobs – she’s been doing that for years, so the Learning for Life program played a really big role in making all that possible.”

Following her VCE, Ms Romero was offered a place in the Bachelor of Environments degree at the University, and again The Smith Family was able to provide valuable support.

In two minds about which career pathway to pursue – both engineering and architecture were appealing – Ms Romero says the support and guidance of an industry mentor made all the difference.

“As soon as I got accepted into my degree The Smith Family set me up with a mentor and I’ve been in contact with her for five years now,” she says.

“She organised for me to do holiday work with her company, and now I’ll be taking up a new job with them in March, so I was really fortunate. That was probably the most valuable part of the program for me.”

It’s these significant outcomes The Smith Family and the University hope to build on with the new MOU.

Dr Lisa O’Brien, CEO at The Smith Family, says taking a broader look at the multiple influences on student wellbeing and participation is integral to creating these opportunities.

“Today more than ever, young people need a multi-layered network of supportive relationships to help them with their learning,” she says.

“Growing up in communities typified by high levels of early school leaving and unemployment, young people with low socio-economic backgrounds often have limited access to opportunities or role models who can support their aspirations.

“We believe partnerships are absolutely essential. The future of our nation depends upon a well-educated population. Our collective support harnesses the power of education to lift young people out of disadvantage and ensure they can contribute towards, and share in, the prosperity of our nation.”

A key theme of the partnership is to support disadvantaged children to stay engaged with schooling. Margot Eden, Manager of Student Equity at the University says this approach will improve access to and participation in university education. 

“Support from the University will include a financial component, which will make a significant contribution to The Smith Family’s ability to deliver both its sponsorship and program activities,” she says.

“Together we will develop and deliver a range of programs and activities to secondary school students. Initially these will be in the priority communities of the Goulburn Valley region, with a particular emphasis on the Yorta Yorta and other Indigenous people of the region, the North and Western regions of Melbourne and disadvantaged inner-city neighbourhoods.”

Ms Romero is pleased to be a part of this partnership story.

“I feel like this MOU plays a big role in a legacy that’s left from my generation of students who went through.

www.thesmithfamily.com.au

www.equity.unimelb.edu.au