Founded in 2019, YOLA (Young Once Learning Always) is a series of financial literacy workshops targeted at high school students, primarily in Year 10.

Created by Perth certified financial planner Jenny Rachmat, the free workshops are designed to have conversations and equip students with fundamentals of money as they prepare themselves to embark on the earning phase of their lives.

The workshops cover understanding a budget, the importance of obtaining a tax file number, why we pay tax and avoiding buy now, pay later (YOLA calls them “pain later”) schemes.

It also examines why superannuation matters are foreign concepts to students immersed in a cashless society, filled with social media influence, temptation, instant gratification and convenience.

The workshops are conducted over three classes and designed to engage students in conversations on topics that are not typically found on the school curriculum and unspoken at the family dinner table.

Workshops are complimentary and require a commitment of three visits of 50 to 60 minute duration, generally structured as one classroom session
per week.

Since 2019, YOLA has done workshops at schools such as Girrawheen Senior High School, Dianella College, Warwick Senior High School, Butler College and Governor Stirling Senior High School.

“YOLA is a wonderful and powerful addition to the curriculum, that builds on students’ understanding of budgeting, taxes, debt, credit and discusses how to make impactful and positive decisions in relation to their hard-earned money,” Governor Stirling SHS mathematics specialist Gemma Barrow said.

“We are always so grateful to have Jenny take the time to come and help engage the students in the YOLA program, firsthand from someone who knows exactly what is needed to succeed in the world of finance.”

For further details or to arrange workshops at your school, email:
jenny.rachmat@shawandpartners.com.au