As part of Global Money Week 2024 this March, Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation is launching the inaugural Talk Money Financial Literacy in Action Awards to recognise and reward school teachers who are inspiring the next generation of Australians to be confident in managing their money.  

Global Money Week (GMW) is an annual global campaign raising awareness of the importance of financial literacy to ensure young people are given the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to make sound financial decisions.

Dr Tracey West, financial education manager at Ecstra Foundation and experienced educator, said the awards are open to teachers at all Australian schools from Kindergarten to Year 12 and across all learning areas.

“These awards encourage teachers to incorporate financial literacy lessons into their classroom. Through our work we know there are many wonderful and passionate teachers who are teaching students the practical life skills they need to navigate personal finances.  The awards recognise and celebrate innovative approaches to financial literacy, including money management fundamentals such as budgeting and saving, as well as smart spending through to understanding financial products such as buy now, pay later,” Dr West said.      

“We invite Kindergarten to Year 12 teachers across all learning areas to share innovative classroom approaches that they have found effective in helping students build financial literacy skills.”

Dr West said Ecstra welcomes submissions that tailor their approach to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse learners.

The four award categories include:  

1. Kindergarten to Year 6  
2. Years 7 and 8  
3. Years 9 and 10  
4. Years 11 and 12  

The competition opens 9am on 31 January 2024 and closes 5pm on 1 March. One entry from each category will be selected by a judging panel and announced during Global Money Week.  The prize for each winning entry includes $2,500 for the school.  Winners will be notified via email and announced on the Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation social media.  

Submissions should include a summary of the project idea, details of the lesson plan, including the purpose, objectives, and materials needed and the intended student outcomes.
“We encourage all primary and secondary schools across Australia to teach student life-long lessons involving financial matters such as understanding budgets, the power of compound interest, the taxation system, superannuation, and even their employment rights as they enter the workforce. These are essential life skills that contribute to the future success of all Australians in their careers and in their personal lives,” Dr West said.

Enter the competition:

https://talkmoney.org.au/financialliteracyinactionawards2024/

References for Global Money week:
https://globalmoneyweek.org/

More information, including bookings, is available at: https://talkmoney.org.au/  

‍