Brewarrina Shire, NSW – 21 April 2025 – Over two powerful days during the April school holidays, First Nations youth from Brewarrina came together to learn, share, and grow their confidence around money at the inaugural Moolah! Bagul! Wulung! Financial Literacy Camp.
The camp, held on 14–15 April 2025 at Beds on the Barwon, brought together young people aged 10–14 for culturally grounded conversations about saving, spending, earning, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Despite the challenges of working in a remote setting - including participant drop-off, resourcing limitations, and minimal engagement from local schools - the impact on those who attended was undeniable.
“We are so proud of what we have achieved in Brewarrina Shire,” said Lavinia Gibbs and Annette Rose, program leaders. “We are grateful to the FRRR for enabling the camp with provision of a grant, to Moogahlin Performing Arts and Lily Shearer for their support, along with Brewarrina Shire Council and Beds on the Barwon. We are looking forward to working with other remote and regional communities to continue spreading the ripple that has started here in Brewarrina.”
The program blended traditional learning with modern money skills - from talking trade and entrepreneurship, to role modelling sustainable livelihoods and encouraging financial self-belief. In one breakout group, two local girls created a business plan and logo for a new venture. In another, boys learned to fish, made spears, and explored the concept of turning cultural knowledge into economic opportunity.
Day one saw 25 students attend, with four highly engaged participants returning for a deeper dive on day two. Behavioural challenges and competing priorities (such as a concurrent dance workshop and work experience placements) made full attendance difficult, but the team embraced flexibility, using smaller group settings to tailor learning and build trust.
The camp was co-led by Lavinia Gibbs (a proud Goodooga woman , educator and founder of To Rise Up Teaching & Consultancy) and Annette Rose (CEO of Kids Get Money) with support from Moogahlin Performing Arts, Brewarrina Shire Council, and a small but mighty team of volunteers. A heartfelt Welcome to Country was led by Lily Shearer, grounding the camp in cultural respect and safety.
“We talked about dreams, needs vs wants, interest rates, business plans - but most of all we talked about power. About young people seeing themselves as capable, and knowing they can create value for their families and community,” said Annette Rose.
The organisers are now in discussions with other community organisations to build on the success of Brewarrina, with hopes to scale the program into a sustained initiative for remote and regional youth.
If your organisation is interested in partnering with us to sponsor further camps or to work with us to bring "Moolah! Bagul! Wulung! to your community, get in touch by email to hello@kidgset.money or call us on 0458 220 886.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Annette Rose
Founder, Kids Get Money
Email: annette@kidsget.money
Phone: 0458 220 886
Lavinia Gibbs
To Rise Up
Email: lavinia@toriseupteaching.com.au
Phone: 0407 333 062
About Kids Get Money
Kids Get Money is a social impact startup dedicated to improving financial literacy in children and young people through engaging, accessible, and practical education programs.
About To Rise Up
To Rise Up is an indigenous education organisation focused on empowering Aboriginal communities through education, advocacy, and culturally relevant programming, led by proud Yuwaalaraay woman Lavinia Gibbs.
