Chris, 28, has been working with Joii’s landscaping and fencing social enterprise in Queensland for about two years. Before participating in the Financial Wellbeing Program, Chris had never completed a tax return and didn’t understand the importance of doing so.
“The part of the course I found most useful was probably the tax part. That just drilled in my head more than anything,” Chris said.
“Also, doing your credit score. That actually helped out too because I found out what my credit score was and I could go and do a couple of things with it.”
Since completing the training, Chris successfully lodged his first-ever tax return through myGov and was surprised to receive a refund, which he used to buy a second-hand car.
Reflecting on the course he said: “It was a good process. The lady who came out was very lively and interactive. I would recommend it.”
Joii’s Social Impact Enterprise Manager, Matthew Cairns, has seen firsthand how the program is shifting employees’ financial confidence.
“Since receiving financial training, I have noticed that participants have gained a better understanding of their finances and are making efforts to avoid living week to week. Some of them have even managed to save for a car,” he said.