18 December 2024
News from Ecstra
As we wrap up a busy and rewarding year for Ecstra and our partners, we would like to share some of the highlights of this quarter.
Ecstra launched our Financial Wellbeing Network with a webinar and lively panel discussion on More than money – building an integrated approach to financial health in Australia. The Network creates opportunities for people to connect, share insights and work together to address the financial health and wellbeing of Australians.
The feedback from our inaugural school FinED Forum 2024 was overwhelmingly positive, with a range of attendees including principals, teachers and educators passionate about financial education, literacy, and wellbeing.
The Forum also included the launch of the 2025 Talk Money Financial Literacy in Action Awards. These awards recognise and reward teachers who inspire their students to be confident in managing money.
Ecstra is delighted to have been awarded Runner Up in SIMNA's 2024 Awards for Social Impact Measurement in the Funding, Investment and Grantmaking category for our impact measurement work.
In December we welcomed James Kirby to the Ecstra board. James brings decades of experience in business, economics, and investment journalism and we look forward to working with him.
It is a great time to acknowledge the hard work and achievements of the many community and grant partners we are fortunate to work with. We wish everyone a safe and restful festive holiday period and we look forward to continuing our work together in 2025, with a strong focus on financial education and capability, to help build the financial wellbeing of all Australians.
Launch of Financial Wellbeing Network
Ecstra Foundation recently launched the Financial Wellbeing Network, designed to create opportunities to connect, share insights, and work together to address and improve the financial health and wellbeing of Australians.
Our inaugural event was a webinar: More than money – building an integrated approach to financial health in Australia, with an expert panel including Brad Ruting, Impact Econmics and Policy, Phillip Usher, First Nations Foundation, Suzie Forell, Health Justice Australia, Bronwyn Boon, Mission Australian and host Caroline Stewart, CEO of Ecstra Foundation. We are looking forward to an exciting program of Financial Wellbeing Network events in 2025.
Inaugural FinEd Forum success
Talk Money with Ecstra Foundation, in partnership with Southern Cross Catholic College, co-hosted the FinEd Forum in NSW on 15 November in Burwood, NSW. The event brought together educators and professionals to discuss integrating financial literacy in classrooms.
Key highlights included the NSW Treasurer's opening address and the launch of the 2025 Financial Literacy in Action Awards, along with the panel discussion with our taxation experts. Forum attendees also engaged in workshops exploring practical strategies for inclusive, technology-driven financial education. The FinEd Forum resources are now available.
2025 Financial Literacy in Action Awards now open: Schools can win $2,500
The 13th edition of Global Money Week runs from 17-23 March 2025 and to celebrate, we are again offering our Talk Money Financial Literacy in Action Awards. These awards recognise and reward teachers who inspire their students to be confident in managing money.
Kindergarten to Year 12 educators are invited to share innovative classroom approaches that help their students build their financial literacy skills across all year levels, no matter how big or small the lesson.
Ecstra Foundation awarded Runner Up in SIMNA awards
Ecstra Foundation is delighted to have been awarded Runner Up in SIMNA's 2024 Awards for Social Impact Measurement in the Funding, Investment and Grantmaking category!
Our warmest thanks to SIMNA and the judging panel, to Urbis for presenting the award and congratulations to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for their Investing in Rural Community Futures win. These awards are a wonderful acknowledgement for our team and partners who have been instrumental in developing and implementing our impact measurement framework and approach.
Ecstra Foundation appoints new Board member
Ecstra Foundation has announced the appointment of James Kirby to its board, effective as of 11 December 2024. With a career spanning decades of expertise in business, economics, and investment journalism, Mr Kirby is currently the Wealth Editor at The Australian and host of the popular twice-weekly 'Money Puzzle' podcast.
Ecstra Foundation Chair Paul Clitheroe said Mr Kirby is a dedicated advocate for financial literacy and education and is well placed to assist with the amplification of Ecstra's strategic objectives.
ACOSS releases 2024 Faces of Unemployment report
ACOSS has just released the 2024 Faces of Unemployment report, which examines the profile of people affected by unemployment and receiving income support – people relying on the $56 a day JobSeeker Payment and even lower Youth Allowance (Other).
The report looks behind the headline unemployment statistics to reveal that long-term unemployment – as measured by receipt of unemployment payments for over 12 months – is now entrenched at an economically and socially harmful level. The findings suggest practical structural solutions that government, employers and others could adopt that would afford more people in Australia the opportunity to participate in work and build a base level of economic security and resilience.