Financial Literacy in the Upper Hunter
Upper Hunter students developed practical money-management skills and gained firsthand insight into university life through an engaging Finance Academy learning experience.
The University of Newcastle Finance Academy recently travelled to Muswellbrook to deliver the Greater Bank Financial Literacy Program for High School Students.
Hosted at the University of Newcastle's Upper Hunter Campus, Big Picture students from Muswellbrook High School joined Finance Academy Engagement Officer Sarah Hoadley and Student Ambassadors Zara Clark and Mishaal Corea for an engaging day of financial literacy education. Through interactive discussions and real-world activities, students explored key financial concepts and developed practical skills to support informed financial decision-making throughout their lives.
The Finance Academy program comprises four core lessons covering financial fundamentals, spending habits, budgeting, and loans and debt. These are complemented by elective modules focused on employment, investing and cybersecurity. While Student and Greater Bank Ambassadors are trained to support the delivery of selected lessons, the program has been designed to be fully teacher-led, enabling schools to adapt delivery to suit their students' needs and learning environments.
A key strength of the program is the central role of teachers. The Finance Academy consistently observes strong levels of student engagement when teachers actively participate in lessons, helping students connect financial literacy concepts to their own experiences while providing valuable context, guidance and discussion.
The University's Upper Hunter Campus provided an ideal setting for the program, offering students the opportunity to engage with a university environment and explore future education pathways. Students also heard directly from current university students about their journeys to higher education, including transitioning from school, moving away from home, living on campus and balancing university study, employment and everyday life.
This combination of financial literacy education and firsthand insight into university life helped students gain a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges they may encounter as they prepare for their futures.
"The financial literacy day made me aware of a variety of ways that we can make our money work for us. It made me think more about my spending and budgeting and how saving small amounts adds up over time." - Year 10 Big Picture student
Kylie Kelly, Relieving Principal of Muswellbrook High School, highlighted the the value of creating meaningful opportunities for students beyond the classroom.
"We are grateful for the strong partnership we have developed with the University of Newcastle and for their ongoing commitment to supporting young people in our region. We look forward to continuing to work together to create meaningful opportunities that empower our students and prepare them for the future.”
For Big Picture Advisor Jess Withers said the program’s practical focus strongly aligned with the school's approach to learning.
"The Finance Academy strongly aligns with the Big Picture philosophy of connecting learning to the real world and providing students with authentic experiences that are relevant to their lives, interests and futures."
Through partnerships with schools across the region, the Finance Academy continues to create meaningful learning experiences that equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully navigate their financial futures while introducing them to future education and career pathways.
Schools interested in participating in the program are encouraged to register their interest via the online Expression of Interest Form.
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