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Winner - MAIA Award 2025
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Singapore, May 28, 2025: Following extensive deliberations by an international panel of expert judges, the MAIAs are proud to announce the winners, runners-up, and special commendations for this year’s Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards.
Said the MAIAs co-founder Michael Gilmore, “With a record number of entries from an incredible 45 countries this year, up from 35 last year, it’s clear that financial literacy is gaining attention as a vital global issue. We saw winning entries from Spain to Singapore, from China and India through to the UK and the USA, underscoring how universal the challenge of money awareness is - and how many brilliant solutions are emerging across the world.”
Click Here to see the complete list of 2025 award recipients.
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“Australia Punches Above Its Weight at 2025 Global Financial Literacy Awards”
Seven Australian organizations and individuals recognized for innovation and impact at the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIAs).
Australia continues to punch above its weight in impactful approaches to financial education. As finance becomes more complicated, we're all going to need to know how to fight the problems this causes”
— Michael Gilmore
SINGAPORE, May 29, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Australia has once again proven it’s a global heavyweight when it comes to financial literacy innovation, punching well above its weight at this year’s Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs).
Celebrating the best projects, people, and ideas working to improve financial capability around the world, the MAIAs received more than 200 entries from 47 countries, both record numbers, as the world begins to recognize how important it is that more people learn about money.
Among the winners and commendations, Australia stood tall - with an impressive seven accolades across a range of categories.
“It’s a huge result,” said MAIAs founder Michael Gilmore. “Australia continues to punch well above its weight in impactful approaches to financial literacy and education. As finance becomes more complicated and more important, we are all going to need to know how to fight the problems this causes - whether its stress, scams or collapsing social mobility - and it's great that Australia is showing the world how it's done.”
🇦🇺 Australian Winners and Special Commendations at the 2025 MAIAs:
🏆 Financial Literacy Australia – Winner: Best Fintech/AI by a For-Profit Organisation
🏆 Mandy Money High School Program – Winner: Best For-Profit School Age Education Project
🏆 Capabilite.com by the Financial Wellbeing Company – Winner: Best For-Profit Adult Financial Education Project
🏆 Fleur Iannazzo – Winner: Best Book for The Money Pizza: The Slice-by-Slice Guide to Being Your Own Money Coach
🎖️ Tracy Hall – Special Commendation: Best Anti-Scam Education Project
🎖️ Jane Monica-Jones – Special Commendation: Best Content Creators or Aggregators for Trauma & Money
🎖️ Cambodia Aspire by CUFA Australia – Special Commendation: Best Non-Profit Adult Financial Education Project
Last year’s Aussie winners Jenny Rolfe-Wallace and Ana Kresina also made an appearance in the celebratory video broadcast, underlining the country’s growing reputation for consistent excellence.
Said Jane Monica-Jones, whose Financial Wellbeing Company was a winner alongside her own special commendation, said: "To be acknowledged in this way - alongside so many incredible change-makers - is both humbling and energising."
Tracey West, financial education manager at Ecstra Foundation, itself a winner in 2024 said, "It is so great to see so many Australians making excellent contributions to financial capability and up on the podium."
Lacey Filipich, first ever winner of the MAIA Best Book category in 2022, with Money School said, "Fleur Iannazzo winning with Money Pizza means we've had an Aussie winner for Best Book for four years running now. Awesome!"
"The range of Australian contributions is enormous, from projects for people with learning difficulties, to anti-scam books to Aussie-led work in developing countries," said Michael Gilmore. "As the global financial literacy community gathers momentum, Australian projects are leading the charge - not only with creative tech and practical tools, but also with heart, storytelling, and education that makes a difference. We love it!"
To view the full list of 2025 MAIA winners, visit:
https://www.maiawards.org/winners-2025/
For interviews or media enquiries, please contact:
Michael Gilmore
Founder, Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards
michael@maiawards.org
Michael Gilmore
The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards
+65 9277 2975
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Support Coordinators
We can tailor the pathway to each client’s needs and goals. They can complete the pathway independently at home or through our new facilitator-led model. We also offer gamified learning options, such as Minecraft Education Edition, where clients can build financial literacy through interactive gameplay.
FACILITATOR MODEL
With our new facilitator-based model, a client’s existing support network - including Support Workers, friends, and family can help guide them through the program. This allows the client to choose who they complete the program with. We chose this model instead of having our own Support Workers, as it allows for better alignment with clients. We can provide (and strongly encourage) training to all facilitators too.
THE PROGRAM
As with most capacity-building programs, outcomes depend on the client’s effort, engagement and learning capabilities. Some clients may need several months of weekly sessions to fully grasp concepts like identifying coins or using an EFTPOS card, while others may only need a week of self-paced learning to learn how to self-manage their NDIS package effectively. We would love for everyone to reach a level of complete independence and exceed their goals & dreams; however, for some people, aiming for that but going from a 1/10 to a 3/10 (in any aspect) is an incredible result.
HELPING YOU WITH REPORTING
We’re committed to working collaboratively with all of the client's stakeholders and maintaining transparency. We offer an encrypted and password-protected feedback and case note section, where all stakeholders (and the participant) can document progress and provide feedback in one location. This feature helps Support Coordinators easily track client engagement, understand session outcomes, and simplify reporting without spending hours having to make multiple phone calls. Clients can also choose to share this information with anyone (especially when multiple support workers are helping) to ensure transparency.
FUNDING
We invoice two contact hours per week - $154 from Core or Capacity building. This does not have to be a stated support. Participants can access the program full time equivalent or more if they wish to ensure optimal value with no minimum or maximum timeframe. Financial Literacy Australia has approval from the NDIS Ministers Office for this delivery method if plan managers require a copy for compliance.
About Us
Daniel Ross, a former Financial Counsellor from the Wimmera in Regional Victoria, founded Financial Literacy Australia after seeing the severe impact of financial hardship on individuals and communities.
He realised that a lack of financial literacy was a key factor, particularly among vulnerable Australians within the NDIS. This inspired him to take action.
Financial Literacy Australia was created to empower NDIS participants by providing them with the financial knowledge and skills needed to achieve independence and self-confidence.
Founder - Financial Literacy Australia
Daniel Ross
Questions?
We have answers.
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Support workers guide participants through the program using our easy facilitator guides.
1. Start Together – Log in on a phone, tablet, or computer.
2. Follow the Guides – Step-by-step instructions, discussion questions & activity ideas.
3. Make It Engaging – Go at the participant’s pace, we provide tips & content!
4. Support & Encourage – Help with questions & track progress.
5. Flexible Learning – Adapt lessons to suit the participant’s needs.🚀 We provide facilitator guides, activity ideas & support.
🚀 If you’re a Support Worker, you invoice the participant for your time! -
You only pay for two hours per week, billed after you complete them.
There’s no extra cost if you finish a module faster.
Each module has a billing limit based on lesson length, ensuring you get the best value
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No, you don’t have to have an active NDIS plan to access the program. Please email us to begin!
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Our program provides interactive, self-paced learning on various financial topics, including budgeting, avoiding scams, insurance, and more, for all skill levels. No prior experience with money is required.
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All services are provided online through our dedicated portal for self-paced learning, and Zoom for One-on-one mentoring.
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No prior knowledge is needed. The program is designed for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already have some financial experience.