Financial literacy programs for schoolsEmpowering teens to master money and make sense of cents.
Invest in a program for your students that pays off - for life.
What's in the program?
Financial literacy 101
Dollars and Sense is a practical financial literacy program designed for Australian high school students. The program is flexible in its delivery with two programs covering 28 important subjects that students can self-pace or be guided through.It covers job seeking, budgeting, investing basics, and life after school - no textbook fluff. Aligned with the Victorian curriculum, its real-world learning made simple and perfect for student personal development.Download a sample of the program by clicking the button below.
Made by teachers, for teachers
Why it works
Dollars and Sense is ready-to-teach, saving time for busy educators with complete lesson plans and student resources.It uses real-world examples teens relate to - like getting a job, budgeting, simple investing or buying a car - so students take real ownership of their financial future.The program also supports cross-curricular learning, aligning with Victorian Curriculum priorities and general capabilities.
Meet the maker
About our founder
I’m Christian, the creator of Dollars and Sense, a program designed to give students the financial knowledge they’ll use for the rest of their lives. With a background in finance, marketing and years of teaching in the classroom, I’ve seen first-hand how confusing money can be for people - both young and old. That’s why I developed a program that takes the guesswork out of financial literacy and makes it engaging, practical, and easy to teach. My goal is simple: to empower the next generation with the confidence to make smart money decisions.B.Com (La Trobe University)
M. Teach (Federation University)
Pricing
We believe in transparent, up-front pricing on a per-student basis that includes GST^. Each purchase includes full access to the program’s lesson plans and high quality student keepsake workbook.Whether you're planning ahead or managing limited funds, Dollars and Sense offers flexible, school-friendly options to make high-impact learning easy to access.Gift cards are also available, making it easy for schools to use end-of-financial-year surplus budgets and redeem the program in the following financial year.^ A minimum count of 50 students applies. Travel outside of 50km of Ballarat incurs a 90c per kilometre return charge, in line with ATO guidance. Overnight accommodation (if applicable) at $450 per night. Interstate rates, on application.
Money Mindset (A)
$25 per student
Give your students the skills they need to take control of their financial future. Dollars and Sense guides teens through budgeting, landing their first job, navigating the job-seeking process, understanding investing, and learning about superannuation - all using real-world examples that make learning relevant and engaging. 13 complete lesson plans are included, making it easy and convenient for teachers to deliver a practical program that equips students with confidence and a lifelong money mindset.
Your Money Map (B)
$25 per student
Prepare your students for real-life financial decisions with Your Money Map (Program B). This program teaches teens about smart investing, spotting financial scams, understanding real estate, taxation, and other essential adult money matters.
15 complete lesson plans make it easy for teachers to deliver practical, engaging lessons that equip students with the confidence and knowledge to navigate the financial world safely and successfully.
Financial literacy 101 (A + B)
$45 per student
Give your students a comprehensive start to their financial literacy journey with both programs (Program A + B) made available to them through two high-quality keepsake text books. Students can self-pace through the program/s and complete at home or be guided by the teacher within their class.Teachers also receive 28 lesson plans to supplement the workbooks that are aligned with the Victorian curriculum.# A complimentary workshop is offered with orders of 100+ students completing Financial Literacy 101 - Program A + B.
N.B travel rates may apply.
Workshop
$550*
Perfect for Personal Development seminars offered by the school, choose one of the below workshops that are perfectly imbedded within the Dollars and Sense program.I will come to your school and hold an engaging workshop to assist your students in their financial journey.1: The job seeking process and resume building
2: Building a budget and investing 101
3: Preparing for life after school
4: How to be rich (without being a celebrity)* Must be purchased in conjunction with a Dollars and Sense program.
© 2025 Learn Dollars and Sense. All rights reserved. ABN 37 675 731 341.
About the program
Engaging, ready-to-teach workshops that prepare teenagers for money, work, and real-world decisions.
The Dollars and Sense program will leave students with the knowledge to write a strong resume, manage their first paycheque, avoid common financial traps, and even start investing - this program speaks directly to what 16-year-olds are curious (and anxious) about. It’s financial literacy that feels real, not theoretical.Everything is designed for teenagers who are about to step into the adult world in a fun and engaging way. Students gain confidence, practical skills, and the mindset to make smarter choices about money and careers.It is an ideal program to offer to students who are contending with cancelled or alternative classes due to the ongoing teacher shortage.
The program is classroom-ready. Each 45-minute module comes with clear structure, learning intentions, success criteria, discussion prompts, and activities. Teachers don’t need to be finance experts - the content is self-contained and easy to deliver.
Financial literacy teaching
in an Australian context
Student outcomes: knowledge, behaviours and system-level performance
Research shows that teaching financial literacy in schools leads to stronger knowledge, confidence and long-term benefits for students (OECD, 2020). Independent evaluations in Australia reported that students involved in structured financial literacy programs showed greater understanding of money management and increased engagement in their school communities (Australian Securities & Investments Commission, 2017).Importantly, financial education is most effective when it connects to real-life situations and classroom learning. Australian case studies show that when money topics are embedded into maths or project-based activities, students find lessons more relevant and engaging, leading to improved motivation and confidence in handling money (Attard, 2018; Financial Basics, 2022). National surveys also show that parents, teachers and students believe financial literacy is essential, with students themselves reporting greater preparedness for financial decisions when these programs are offered (Ecstra Foundation, 2025).
Classroom engagement - what helps learning stick
The Dollars and Sense program focuses on relevant and meaningful learning that students directly benefit from. As a result, students are motivated to participate and focus on the topic at hand, leading to improved academic and social-emotional outcomes as well as a decrease in disruptive behaviour within the classroom (NSW Department of Education, 2022). For students who find abstract maths disengaging, Attard (2018) notes that topics such as budgeting, simulation and problem solving, may increase student interests in the embedded consumer/financial topics that branch into maths, business and other cross-curriculum projects that are aligned with the Victorian curriculum (VCMNA304, VCMNA329, VCPSCSO051, VCEBC023, VCCCTM042 et al.).
Value of teacher professional learning & ready-made programs
(including time-savings)
The Dollars and Sense program is ready to teach, complete with learning materials and lesson plans. Teachers benefit from incorporating ready-made programs into their pedagogy because these resources save significant preparation time, reduce workload pressures, and increase the likelihood of consistent delivery. Access to structured, curriculum-aligned resources also improves teacher confidence, particularly when dealing with subject matter outside their primary expertise, such as financial literacy (Australian Securities & Investments Commission, 2017).Research shows that when ready-made resources are paired with professional learning, teachers are better able to embed new content areas into their teaching practice sustainably (Commonwealth of Australia, 2013–17). This reduces the cognitive and administrative load on teachers while maintaining high-quality instruction, ultimately leading to improved student engagement and outcomes.
Contact us and booking form
Resources coming soon!
Testimonials coming soon!
