Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Bernie Ripoll, will join teachers and education leaders this week (11-12 December 2012) for the launch of the MoneySmart Teaching Secondary Package in Adelaide.
This teaching resource will help Australian secondary school students become confident, informed and responsible financial consumers.
The MoneySmart Teaching Secondary Package is part of the $10 million Helping Our Kids Understand Finances (HOKUF) initiative designed to improve financial literacy in schools, which was announced by the Australian Government in 2010.
Funded by the Australian Government, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's (ASIC's) MoneySmart Teaching Secondary Package integrates financial concepts into the Australian Curriculum for students in Years 7-10.
"Financial literacy is a skill for life. Integrating financial literacy into everyday learning will help students develop their knowledge and understanding of financial concepts and risks," Mr Ripoll said.
"Financial literacy education is also one of the best ways we can help people deal with cost of living pressures as well as make good investment decisions.
"This is about helping our young people develop good habits early on so they can take control of their finances for a lifetime of financial success."
The MoneySmart Teaching Secondary Package is just one of many free quality resources developed by ASIC to help educators, families and community members teach young people about the financial principles of planning, saving, spending, donating and investing wisely.
"Australia is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to teaching consumer and financial literacy to school students. MoneySmart Teaching uses real life financial decisions as a basis for learning in maths, science and English," Mr Ripoll said.
Early next year, ASIC's secondary package will be trialled in approximately 35 secondary government, independent and Catholic schools across Australia. The primary package is currently being trialled in 58 schools nationally with promising early results.
Mr Ripoll said that the Australian Government was proud to be the catalyst for this initiative.
"We're also delighted that five jurisdictions have entered into a national partnership with ASIC to deliver the professional learning program to teachers and establish MoneySmart Schools.
"ASIC continues to work directly with schools and teachers in the other states and territories so that we have a fair and equitable national approach," he said.
At the completion of the trial in June 2013, over 6,000 teachers will have received face-to-face professional development in financial literacy education.
ASIC's MoneySmart Teaching website supports primary and secondary teachers with access to online learning and quality digital activities for the classroom.
Mr Ripoll said that parents also play a critical role in ensuring our future generations are financially savvy, as the first teachers of their children.
"MoneySmart Teaching not only aims to increase awareness among parents about the importance of financial literacy education, but also gives them the tools to teach these skills at home," Mr Ripoll said.
To find out more about ASIC's MoneySmart Teaching program and to access resources, visit the MoneySmart website. A list of MoneySmart trial schools can be found on the website.
12 December 2012