Changing the way youth think about and deal with money is a passion of one Wagga teacher.
Jenny Rolfe, a business and commerce teacher at Wagga Christian College, wants to improve all the students knowledge of money.
For the last two years Ms Rolfe has been working on a draft program to help students build knowledge and skill in terms of money.
All schools deal with the issue of money and finance through the national curriculum but
Where her program differs is in the format. The program she has planned brings parents and children together to learn.
While most parents talk to their children about money Ms Rolfe said many aren’t sure who much to talk about and at what ages.
“Parents know it is important but don’t know what is right,” Ms Rolfe said.
“There are different things to do at different stages.”
The program will involved afterhours commitment from both Ms Rolfe, the students and parents.
“I want everyone to walk out knowing they can do it,” Ms Rolfe said.
Although the program hasn’t commenced yet Ms Rolfe works closely with her year nine and 10 class on money and budgeting.
The class focused on SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) saving goals for one portion of the class.
One student, Vimbai Murambi, told Ms Rolfe that she is now confident to save for any amount now that she knows how to set a goal.
The program is able to be rolled out next term after a $10,000 grant from the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award.
She was one of just 15 teachers selected from more than 200 to receive funding.
Ms Rolfe worked as a financial planner for six years where she saw the simple mistakes people would make.
“It didn’t matter if people were earning 50 or 150 thousand, people still spent more than they earnt,” Ms Rolfe said.
“The younger you talk about money the lower the chances of going into debt later in life.”
This is the basis of her program with years nine, 10 and 11 the first to start. There are hopes to expand the program to the rest of the high school and eventually all the way down to kindergarten.
Ms Rolfe the program can be offered as an extracurricular program at the school in the future.
