A new report from the Ecstra Foundation has highlighted growing demand from Australian schools for practical financial education, as its Talk Money program reaches more than half a million students nationwide.
The organisation’s latest Talk Money Impact Report found that the Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation program has supported 530,873 students across 1,622 schools to build skills and confidence in managing money and making informed financial decisions.
The findings come at a time when financial literacy rates have declined across Australia, and educators are seeking practical resources to support students’ financial capability.
Students who participated in Talk Money workshops reported improvements across three key measures of financial capability:
- 29 per cent increase in students’ ability to talk about money
- 40 per cent increase in confidence managing money
- 35 per cent increase in intent to achieve financial goals
The report also found 87 per cent of teachers believe the financial topics covered in the workshops would not otherwise be taught, suggesting gaps in how financial skills are currently addressed in schools.
According to Ms Caroline Stewart, CEO of Ecstra Foundation, the results underline the role schools and targeted programs can play in helping young people develop essential financial skills.
“The Talk Money workshops are helping students develop the knowledge and confidence they need to make decisions about money at each stage of life,” Ms Stewart said.
“As financial literacy levels have declined across Australia many young people are entering adulthood without the skills they need to manage money, avoid scams and navigate an increasingly complex financial system, and programs such as Talk Money are an important part of filling the gap.”
Teachers participating in the program also identified ways financial education could be strengthened in schools. These included greater access to financial education programs (90 per cent), stronger emphasis on financial education within the national curriculum (89 per cent), and more teaching resources to support financial literacy instruction (92 per cent).
The findings coincide with a targeted review of the Australian Curriculum being undertaken by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, focusing on the mathematics curriculum for Foundation to Year 2.
The review aims to strengthen early numeracy and improve clarity around foundational concepts for teachers, while also ensuring the inclusion of consumer and financial literacy concepts within the maths curriculum.
Ms Stewart said initiatives such as Talk Money help connect classroom learning with real-world financial decisions.
“The Australian Curriculum provides the foundations for skills such as numeracy, financial literacy and problem solving,” she said.
“Programs like Talk Money bring those skills to life by helping students understand how numbers apply to day-to-day money decisions and transactions.”
Since launching in 2022, Talk Money has expanded to become one of the largest free face-to-face financial education programs delivered in Australian schools, reaching students in Years 5–10 across every state and territory.
The workshops cover topics including spending and saving, financial decision-making, workplace rights and online safety.
In response to an increase in scams targeting young people, the program recently introduced a new session, Becoming Scam Savvy, designed to help secondary students recognise scams and stay safe online.
“Financial education goes far beyond understanding money. It’s about building the confidence, habits and practical life skills young people need to make good financial decisions throughout their lives,” Ms Stewart said.
“Talk Money is helping Australian students start those conversations about money at school, at home and with their peers, setting them on a lifelong path to financial capability.”
