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Students studying Optometry and Vision Science face significant financial pressures in their later years of study, such as equipment purchases (minimum $5,000), and self-funded placement opportunities in rural, interstate or overseas optometry clinics. These costs are further exacerbated by the ongoing cost of living crisis.

To support students in excelling in their studies, SOVS piloted a Financial Fitness Masterclass — a three-part workshop series custom-tailored for optometry students, designed and delivered by Dr. Natalie Oh from ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼǒs School of Banking and Finance. The masterclass is an innovative initiative which has never been offered to Medicine and Health students and introduced students to practical financial literacy topics including financial personalities, budgeting and investing. The goal of the program is to significantly elevate students' financial awareness, literacy, and overall educational skill, and thereby enrich their university experience, foster engagement, and promote success through financial wellbeing.

Embedded into a core first-year course in 2025, the Financial Fitness Masterclass had strong engagement with 47 students participating, where 31 attended all three workshops and 16 attended at least one. Students consistently gave high ratings to the overall content of the workshops (4.5/5) and the instructor, Dr Natalie Oh (4.7/5). Feedback immediately after the last workshop showed promising outcomes — 89% of students felt more motivated to manage their finances, and 86% reported feelings of improved financial literacy.

Comparisons of survey results before and after the masterclass series illustrated favourable changes to students’ perceived and actual financial literacy. Less students reported ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’ perceived financial literacy and all post-program respondents passed the global financial literacy scale, scoring 4 or above out of a possible 7.

A follow-up co-design workshop enabled students to voice their opinions on the program and refine the curriculum to their needs. Students enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on their financial position and called for more interactive group work, optometry-specific case scenarios, more in-depth discussions on investments and brief coverage of topics like tax, debt and financial scams.  Student feedback will be incorporated into the program for delivery to future cohorts.

As student financial hardship continues to impact academic success and wellbeing, it's timely for our Faculty to consider where and how financial literacy can be embedded into program structures, whether through e-portfolios or within existing courses, while aligning with existing professionalism competencies. With strong student support and alignment to broader EDI and programmatic assessment goals, financial literacy deserves a permanent place in our medicine and health programs.