Teaching Financial Literacy That Actually Sticks
Most people glaze over when finance comes up. Too many terms, too much jargon, and not enough connection to what they actually care about.
We've spent years figuring out how to make financial concepts accessible without dumbing them down. Our teaching methods focus on practical examples from everyday Australian life—mortgages, superannuation, tax planning, investment basics.
The goal isn't to turn everyone into an accountant. It's to help people feel confident making decisions about their own money.
How Our Sessions Actually Work
We've built a teaching framework that moves from concepts to application. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Foundation Work
We start with the basics, but not the boring kind. Real scenarios that people encounter—understanding a payslip, reading a bank statement, or figuring out what compound interest actually means for a home loan. This phase usually runs about three weeks and meets twice weekly.
Practical Analysis
Here's where it gets interesting. Participants work with anonymized case studies from real Australian households. They learn to spot patterns, identify problems, and suggest solutions. We use spreadsheets, budgeting tools, and basic financial calculators—nothing fancy, just what works.
Decision Frameworks
This is about building judgment. How do you decide between paying off debt or investing? When does refinancing make sense? What questions should you ask a financial advisor? We focus on helping people develop their own critical thinking rather than memorizing rules.
Personal Application
The final phase is entirely optional and confidential. Participants can apply what they've learned to their own financial situations. We provide feedback and guidance, but everything stays private. Many people find this the most valuable part of the program.
What Makes Our Approach Different
After working with hundreds of people across different backgrounds, we've learned what actually helps people understand finance. Here are the principles that guide everything we do.
Context First
Every concept connects to something real. We don't teach interest rates in isolation—we talk about how they affect your mortgage or car loan. Numbers mean more when they're attached to actual decisions.
No Judgment Zone
Financial literacy shouldn't feel like a test you're failing. We've worked with people at every level, and everyone starts somewhere. Questions are encouraged, and there's no such thing as a dumb one.
Tools Over Theory
You'll learn by doing. Calculators, spreadsheets, budgeting apps—we focus on the practical tools people actually use. Theory matters, but only when it helps you make better decisions.
Australian Context
Our tax system is different. Our super system is unique. Medicare affects healthcare costs. We teach finance in the context that actually matters for people living in Australia, not generic international examples.
Incremental Progress
Financial confidence builds slowly. We break complex topics into manageable pieces and celebrate small wins. Understanding your first balance sheet feels as important as it should—it's a real achievement.
Ongoing Support
Learning doesn't stop when the program ends. We provide resources, maintain a community forum, and offer quarterly refresher sessions. Finance keeps evolving, and so should your understanding of it.
Meet Your Instructors
Callum Breckenridge
Lead InstructorCallum worked in financial planning for twelve years before switching to education in 2019. He specializes in making complex topics feel approachable and has a particular knack for helping people understand investment basics. His sessions run from March through November 2025.
Sienna Thornhill
Senior EducatorSienna brings fifteen years of banking experience to her teaching. She's passionate about helping people understand the fine print and ask the right questions. Her background includes mortgage lending and business banking, which gives her sessions a practical edge.
Our Teaching Space
We meet at our Greenway location, which has proper tables, whiteboards, and comfortable seating. Coffee and tea are always available, and we keep sessions to reasonable lengths—nobody learns well when they're exhausted. Our next program begins in August 2025.