A number of generous community groups came together recently to create a Financial Literacy program for grade nine students from Mossman State High School to give them important financial skills and help cover the cost of a new senior school uniform.

Mossman Support Services partnered with Uniting Care Financial Literacy and Wellbeing Services, Ives Mensland, Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre, and Mossman State High School to provide Financial Literacy to all grade nine students transitioning into grade 10.

Erica Mast, Community Connect Worker from Mossman Support Services said the program saw the students receive a session from a Financial Educator providing them with information regarding financial resilience and simple life skills they may require as they enter the senior school and start getting after school jobs.

Topics covered included opening a bank account, understanding how interest accrual works, managing a simple budget and making sound financial decisions.

“Part of the program will see all registered participants receive one free senior shirt, provided at a discounted rate to this program by Mensland, which we hope will take some of the financial burden off of these families during this difficult time,” Ms Mast said. 

The program was developed after a brainstorming conversation between United Care, Mossman Support Services and the high school guidance officer, regarding how best to distribute extra funds United Care had to help students purchase new uniforms in the Douglas Shire.

“As the conversation progressed, the outline of a plan emerged but the funding provided by United Care wasn’t enough to cover the cost,” Ms Mast said.

So, the group reached out to other community services and groups for help and received a positive response which helped to cover the cost for all grade nine students.

“This program is important because it is an equal opportunity for young people who are reaching the age of employment to learn fiscal responsibility by a professional working in the industry.

“Some young people in this age demographic may already be financially supporting themselves or contributing toward their family’s budget, especially in light of the dramatic impact that COVID has had on financial wellbeing. 

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“These essential life skills may not always be modelled by the adults in these young people’s lives and this program is intended to ensure all of the emerging cohort start on the right foot and can make informed decisions; the aim being that by the time they reach adulthood, this information will be old hat and they can successfully provide for themselves and be less dependent on others,” she said.

Ms Mast said the benefit of the shirt is two-fold; it takes some of the financial strain off of those students’ families during this difficult period and also guarantees that all of the new senior school students have at least one senior shirt, preventing struggling students from being singled out by their peers for not having the correct uniform.

“If this program can alleviate some of that financial pressure from families while building a bedrock of resilience in the participants, then the program has met its intended goals,” Ms Mast said.

Deputy Mayor Lisa Scomazzon was in attendance to support the initiative.

“I think it’s a great program for the students and it’s great to see local businesses and organisations supporting the program as well.

“It’s a great step for our students for later in life when they leave school,” she said.

The program hopes to generate further community awareness and if it is successful organisers hope to make it an annual opportunity for students transitioning into the senior school.

A number of generous community organisations and businesses contributed to the program including:

• Uniting Care Financial Literacy and Resilience Service, who are providing the training to the students free of charge and $750 toward the purchase of 124 Senior Shirts (one for each student)
• Mossman Support Services - Community Connect Program -$750, Community Development - $750 and Mossman Youth Centre -$750
• Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre - $750
• Mossman High School P&C - $1125
• Mossman High School – to cover the remaining cost $705
• Ives Mensland – Providing a discount of $4.50 per shirt for the program, a total value of $558