Real Projects, Real Skills

See what students build when they apply budgeting principles to actual scenarios. These projects show how theory turns into practical capability.

Explore Our Program
Student working on budget planning project with detailed financial spreadsheets
Autumn 2025

Household Budget Redesign

Lachlan Kershaw worked with a family to restructure their monthly spending. The project included tracking habits over six weeks, identifying problem areas, and building a sustainable plan that saved them roughly $400 monthly without drastic lifestyle changes.

8 Week project
3 Mentor sessions
Financial planning documents and calculator showing budget analysis work
Spring 2025

Small Business Cash Flow Model

Freya Bellingham created a forecasting tool for a local café owner who struggled with seasonal fluctuations. Her model helped predict quiet periods and plan accordingly, which made purchasing decisions easier and reduced waste significantly.

10 Week duration
2 Client meetings

What Students Gain

Projects aren't just assignments. They're opportunities to develop judgment, communication skills, and the ability to adapt financial concepts to messy real-world situations.

01

Practical Experience

Working with actual data from real people teaches you to navigate incomplete information and conflicting priorities. You learn what works when textbook solutions don't quite fit.

02

Communication Ability

Explaining financial concepts to someone unfamiliar with budgeting terminology is harder than it sounds. Projects force you to translate jargon into plain language that actually helps people.

03

Portfolio Development

Case studies based on real work demonstrate your thinking process to future employers or clients. You can show how you approached problems, not just claim you know theory.

Project Mentors

Portrait of Callum Fitzroy, financial planning mentor

Callum Fitzroy

Personal Finance Specialist

Callum spent twelve years working with households across Canberra before joining our program. He reviews every student project and provides feedback on assumptions, methodology, and client communication. His background means he spots the small mistakes that can undermine otherwise solid work.

Portrait of Sienna Driscoll, business budgeting advisor

Sienna Driscoll

Business Budgeting Advisor

Sienna focuses on projects involving small businesses and startups. She helps students understand cash flow patterns, seasonal planning, and the difference between theory and what actually keeps a business solvent. Her approach is direct but patient.

Start Your Own Project

Our next intake begins in September 2025. If you're ready to move beyond theory and build something meaningful, we'd like to hear from you.

Get In Touch