Life Education welcomes greater emphasis on financial education

Life Education Trust acknowledges and supports the Government’s announcement to embed financial education as a core element of the refreshed social sciences curriculum for Year 1-10 students.

The announcement from Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford and Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Scott Simpson promises to integrate essential skills into the curriculum and better equip young people to make informed financial decisions in today’s complex financial landscape.

Life Education Trust Chief Executive, Mark Weatherall, said financial literacy was an essential life skill that helps empower individuals to make informed financial decisions, protects them from falling into debt traps, and reduces inequality.

The Trust – acknowledged as one of the providers for this announcement – has been teaching financial literacy in schools since 2020 through its SMART$ financial education programme.

“We know through our current education programme that investing in financial education today, we are investing in the future financial health and well-being of our nation,” says Weatherall.

“By teaching students about money and making financial decisions we can prepare students to contribute to our society and our economy in a meaningful way and improve their chances of a better quality of life.”

Life Education Trust introduced the SMART$ financial education programme to secondary schools in  2020. The programme has had over 12,000 students participate in the programme each year and is complemented by an online tool. SMART$ is sponsored by PMG Charitable Trust.

Life Education Trust's SMART$ Programme at Woodford House