Consumer advocacy and assistance programs
Ecstra partners with a range of organisations and educators, often already active in schools, communities and workplaces. We share a passion for financial education and equality of access – ensuring that more people from all backgrounds and at all life stages get the opportunity to learn money lessons for life, to be confident making financial decisions and to plan their financial future.
Financial education and learning about money is a lifelong journey. Ecstra wants to ensure that more Australians have access to effective financial education, and guidance when they need it.
Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation
Our flagship financial literacy program, Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation, is a free national program designed to help Australian school students learn money lessons for life, to be confident talking about money, and to make informed financial decisions.
Talk Money ensures more Australian students have access to effective money lessons and guidance when they need it. It is the largest school based financial education program in Australia.
Learn more at Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation:
Our 2024 evaluation data shows Talk Money is making a meaningful difference in students’
financial capability:
44%
increase in confidence in managing money
30%
increase in ability to talk about money
38%
increase in intent to achieve financial goals.
Since launching in 2022, Talk Money has delivered over 11,400 workshops to over 445,770 students across 1,484 schools.
*As at 30 June, 2025 (NB We will update prior to launch)
Other financial education partners and initiatives
Below is a selection of current grants addressing money lessons for life.
Young Change Agents
$20 Boss
$20 Boss by Young Change Agents (YCA) is putting the development of enterprise skills such as critical thinking, teamwork and entrepreneurship together with financial literary at the forefront of learning.
Ecsta’s multi-year partnership supports the structured classroom based program, equipping young people with critical financial skills by guiding them through the creation of micro businesses with purpose. In 2024, 97% of educators surveyed agreed that the $20 Boss program helped students to increase their confidence to manage money, make financial decisions and plan for the future.
$20 Boss highlights over the life of the program to June 2025
116,193
estimated participants
1,932
unique teachers
445,779
unique schools
$204,182
loans provided
Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN)
Over 2,700 students have built their financial literacy, confidence to talk about money, and skills to make better financial choices through the Australian Business Community Network’s (ABCN) mentoring partnership.
ABCN brings business and schools together to address educational disparity. Mentors are connected with students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and through structured programs they help develop student skills, confidence and aspirations.
Our multi year partnership funds ABCN to embed financial literacy concepts into their suite of mentoring and careers programs. This provides valuable opportunities for students to learn and discuss real world topics with their business mentors, including setting financial goals, taxation, saving and spending.
Outcomes
2,738 student participants in financial capability sessions. After attending, students say they:
78%
know where to go for information about money matters
85%
understand basic financial concepts such as budgeting, savings, setting a financial goal and tax
85%
feel confident having conversations about money matters with others.