A new report from Ecstra Foundation highlights the growing demand from Australian schools for practical financial education as part of the curriculum, at a time when financial literacy rates have fallen across all age groups in Australia.

As this week’s Global Money Week focuses on the importance of financial education worldwide, the latest Talk Money Impact Report reveals that the Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation program has helped 530,873 young Australians across 1,622 schools nationally build the confidence and skills to manage money and make informed financial decisions.

Students who participated in the workshops recorded strong improvements across three key financial capability measures:

• 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 that 87 per cent of teachers believe the financial topics covered in Talk Money workshops would not otherwise be taught, highlighting a gap between existing curriculum coverage and the practical financial skills students need.

Caroline Stewart, CEO of Ecstra Foundation, said the results underscore the important role schools and education programs play in building financial capability from an early age.

“The Talk Money workshops are helping students develop the knowledge and confidence they need to make decisions about money at each stage of life,” said Stewart.

“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 several ways financial education could be strengthened in schools, including:

• More complementary resources and guides to support financial literacy teaching (92 per cent)
• Greater access to financial education programs, such as Talk Money (90 per cent)
• Stronger emphasis on financial education in the Australian Curriculum (89 per cent)

“The strong growth in participating schools shows just how much educators value practical financial education and the role programs like Talk Money can play in supporting teachers,” said Stewart.

The findings come as the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) undertakes a targeted review of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics for Foundation to Year 2, aimed at strengthening early numeracy and improving clarity for teachers around foundational concepts.

ACARA has indicated the review will also ensure inclusion of foundational consumer and financial literacy concepts within the maths curriculum.

Stewart said initiatives like Talk Money help bridge the gap between core numeracy skills and 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 grown to become Australia’s largest free face-to-face financial education program offered in schools, delivering workshops across all states and territories.

The program’s curriculum-aligned workshops are delivered to students in Years 5–10, covering topics such as spending and saving, financial decision-making, workplace rights and online safety.

Responding to the rise in scams targeting young people, the program recently introduced “Becoming Scam Savvy”, a workshop designed to help high school 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.

“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,” added Stewart.