Financial literacy — the knowledge and skills to make sound financial decisions — is foundational to personal wellbeing and financial security. Australians with higher financial literacy save more, retire better, and avoid predatory financial products. Yet financial literacy varies enormously across the population: young people, people with lower education, CALD communities, and people experiencing financial hardship often have significant gaps in financial knowledge. Grant funding supports financial education in schools, community financial literacy programmes, superannuation awareness, and the targeted interventions that build financial capability for Australians who need it most.
The knowledge gap
What financial literacy covers
Consequences of low financial literacy
ASIC MoneySmart
The primary government financial literacy resource:
- Free online financial guidance
- School curriculum resources
- National Consumer Financial Literacy Strategy
National Financial Literacy Strategy
ASIC-led national framework.
Department of Education
Financial literacy in the national curriculum.
NAB Foundation
Financial capability is a core focus.
ANZ Foundation
Financial wellbeing.
Commonwealth Bank Foundation
Financial education and capability.
Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand
Financial capability linked to financial inclusion.
The Smith Family
Financial literacy as part of education for disadvantaged youth.
School-based education
Youth financial education
Community financial literacy
CALD communities
Indigenous financial literacy
Superannuation literacy
Women's financial literacy
Older Australians
Debt and credit literacy
Investing and wealth
Australia's superannuation system is one of the world's most successful retirement savings systems — but financial literacy around super is poor:
- Many young people don't understand super and how contributions compound
- Women have significantly lower super balances (career breaks, part-time work, pay gap)
- Gig workers often don't receive super and don't know their entitlements
- CALD workers in cash-in-hand work may miss super entirely
Superannuation literacy programmes — particularly for young people (when contributions matter most), women, and CALD workers — have long-term financial wellbeing impact.
Targeted populations
Generic financial literacy for the general public has limited impact — populations with specific gaps and specific life circumstances need targeted programmes. Applications that target specific high-need populations (CALD women, young workers, Indigenous communities) are more impactful.
Behaviour change, not just knowledge
Financial literacy knowledge alone doesn't change behaviour — people need skills, social norms, and accessible tools as well. Applications that demonstrate how they drive behaviour change alongside knowledge transfer are more credible.
Life stage relevance
Financial literacy is most impactful at decision points — first job (super), first credit card, having children (budgeting), approaching retirement. Applications that target specific life stage transitions are more relevant.
Trusted delivery channels
Financial literacy delivered by trusted community organisations — employers, community centres, schools, faith communities — is more effective than generic programmes. Applications with credible, trusted delivery partners are more credible.
Tahua's grants management platform supports financial literacy funders and financial capability organisations — with programme participant tracking, knowledge outcome measurement, behaviour change data, and the reporting tools that help financial literacy funders demonstrate their investment in the financial skills that underpin Australian wellbeing.