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Hume to host Paul Clitheroe to launch ASIC MoneySmart Teaching Program to local schools

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16/05/2013

Local schools are being offered the opportunity to be part of a national program which teaches students of all ages about money and how to be savvy consumers.

While financial literacy is an essential life skill, it is not formally taught at all schools.  Developed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the MoneySmart Teaching program aims to help students develop good consumer and financial habits and support teachers with innovative resources for the classroom and face-to-face training.

ASIC's MoneySmart Teaching Program is a government initiative and fully endorsed by Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board, Paul Clitheroe.  Being MoneySmart is a core life skill. In a rapidly changing world of personal finances, children and young people benefit from the knowledge, understanding, skills and behaviours to establish good consumer and financial habits.

“Money is a subject that scares many people, and teachers are no different”, said ASIC’s Peter Cuzner, Senior Manager for Financial Literacy.  “This program aims to teach teachers before they are asked to teach their students.”

Hume was approached by ASIC to encourage regional schools to take up the program.

“Hume’s focus on providing school banking and financial literacy across their region is commendable. ASIC is keen to work with Hume to deliver professional learning to local teachers”, Mr Cuzner said.

ASIC’s MoneySmart Teaching Program will be showcased at a financial literacy conference for local schools, teachers and parents on June 11. Paul Clitheroe will be keynote speaker.  

“Hume has extended an invitation to the 41 schools that participate in its School Banking Program and other local schools in the region. P &C groups are also encouraged to send a representative to a workshop which will focus on the range of resources available to assist parents and carers who are eager to participate in their child’s consumer and financial literacy education”, said Hume CEO Andrew Saxby.
“Hume is thrilled to be invited to work with ASIC on the MoneySmart Teaching Program. We are really excited about the opportunities this will provide to our region, especially to our children.”
“Financial literacy hasn’t been part of the Australian school curriculum and we feel an obligation to help close that gap.  We can’t solve the problem, but we aim to help where we can.”

The idea of holding a conference was discussed when Peter Cuzner, ASIC’s Senior Manager for Financial Literacy visited the region in March.  Mr Cuzner shared with Hume many of the resource initiatives and visited Holy Spirit Primary School - one of Hume’s School Banking Schools. ASIC’s interest in Hume follows the national recognition Hume has received for its strong commitment to improving financial literacy in the region.

Last year, Hume won CANSTAR’s Best Value Australian Youth Banking and Education Award for all mutual banks, credit unions and building societies.  The award recognised the provision of excellent financial education and banking services for primary and secondary students.  

Hume’s financial literacy program was also recognised for its efforts in social marketing for improving financial literacy among children as a national finalist in the 2011 Australian Marketing Institute (“AMI”) Awards for Marketing Excellence.

Hume also regularly hosts seminars for adults on a variety of topics, including education bonds, investing, retirement and life insurance.

For more information on attending the conference on June 11, please contact Colleen Blancato, Project Officer for NSW on (02) 9715 8206 or Shane O’Connor, Project Officer for VIC on (03) 9032 1695

For further details about ASIC’s MoneySmart Teaching program, visit www.teaching.moneysmart.gov.au

For more information on Hume's financial literacy and school banking programs click here