Money Managed for Teens

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www.financialcapability.gov.au/teens

In 2021, the Department of the Treasury was tasked with developing a Youth Financial Capability Program, with its centrepiece being a website targeted at teens (aged 14-16) and their parents. Their research indicated that low financial capability among youth was a concern across all socioeconomic groups, but that there was no specific Australian Government resource targeting this age group. 

The job 

The Treasury engaged Overleaf Communications to work with their in-house UX Designer to design a website structure, content and tools that would explain complex financial information to youth in an accessible, inclusive and engaging way. 

The approach

I reviewed research on the target demographic and assessed equivalent and related offerings in other jurisdictions and the private sector. I considered how the site would complement and integrate with the Australian Government’s existing suite of financial capability information.  

I conducted in-depth exploration of financial topics and designed simple but engaging content that could be easily consumed by teenagers. I used terms that are more familiar to someone encountering the subject matter for the first time, assisting with accessibility and SEO. 

The output

I scoped and designed:

• an information architecture with intuitive labels 
• wrote each page of content
• designed a tool that used gradual disclosure of information to help teens think of the hidden costs of major purchases. 

The Treasury UX Designer and I developed 4 hi-fi prototypes. 

To support the team to build the site after my departure, I provided guidance materials including:

• a website playbook to explain the rationale for the content decisions
• materials to manage content clearances with subject matter experts and executive 
• placemats to brief the executive on the project status.

The result 

During 2 testing rounds the content was very positively received by 16 teenagers and their parents, with participants expressing they would use the site once it was launched, and excitement for its launch. 

Money Managed for teens was launched in February 2022.