A national summit has brought together leaders from government, business, education, and community to promote financial confidence, inclusion, and resilience across Australia as new figures show the cost of living continues to rise.
On Tuesday 4 November, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) revealed that core inflation has risen to 3% and is projected to spike to a headline rate of 3.7% by mid-2026. Previous expectations were that inflation would fall to 2.5% by 2027, but the updated data shows this will no longer be achieved.
With Australian families struggling financially as the economy slows, Ecstra Foundation launched its inaugural National Financial Wellbeing Summit 2025 in Sydney on Thursday.
A key focus of the event was promoting financial education early in schools to ensure young people develop the skills and confidence they need to make informed financial choices.
For its part, Ecstra has been addressing this issue in schools across Australia through initiatives such as Talk Money, the largest free, face to face financial literacy program offered in schools nationwide.
Ecstra Foundation CEO Caroline Stewart called the Summit “an opportunity to move from growing awareness to concrete action.”
“Financial wellbeing is about much more than managing money – it’s about having the confidence, access, and opportunity to make choices that support your life and future,” Stewart said.
“With so many external economic threats and a rapidly changing financial world, we need to strengthen both the individual skills people rely on every day, and the systems that should support financial security.”
However, meaningful progress depends on collaboration, Stewart noted.
“There is a growing commitment across sectors to strengthen financial wellbeing, but no single organisation can achieve it alone,” she said.
“This is a moment for renewed national leadership to bring people together on an issue that affects every household.”