Caroline Stewart
Ecstra Foundation will work with stakeholders across sectors to help develop a National Action Plan on Financial Wellbeing, announced at Ecstra’s 2026 National Financial Wellbeing Summit in Sydney yesterday.
The plan will build on the Shared Call to Action released earlier this year, which is supported by more than 40 organisations and individuals, and sets out six priorities for strengthening financial capability and wellbeing. The next phase will bring together evidence, expertise, lived experience and examples of effective practice to identify gaps, opportunities and areas for greater collaboration.
Contributions from a wide range of consumer advocates, researchers, educators, financial counsellors, community organisations, government, regulators, industry and others will be welcomed and help inform this work.
Ecstra Foundation CEO Caroline Stewart said the intention was to build on, rather than duplicate, the significant progress already underway across Australia.
“The Call to Action established shared priorities. The next step is to work with others on how to translate this into practical areas for action,” Ms Stewart said.
“The proposed Action Plan provides a pathway to bring together evidence, experience and ideas from across sectors and identify opportunities for stronger coordination.”
The aim is to also contribute insights to help inform any future government-led national approach to financial capability and wellbeing.
“A coordinated national approach led by government remains an important ambition. This initiative is about what we can build together now and to harness the expertise and goodwill of the many people working to improve the financial lives of Australians,” Ms Stewart said.
The announcement came as leaders from government, regulation, consumer advocacy, education, research, community services and industry gathered at The Mint for Ecstra’s second National Financial Wellbeing Summit, hosted by 9News Money Editor and Ecstra Board Member Effie Zahos.
Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services the Hon Dr Daniel Mulino MP delivered a pre-recorded address, while ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland spoke on financial capability and consumer protection.
Other speakers represented organisations including Beyond Blue, the Consumer Policy Research Centre, Infoxchange, NAB Assist, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Thriving Communities Australia, Global Sisters, the Financial Advice Association Australia and Financial Counselling Australia.
The Summit is timely, given the continuing pressure on Australian households, with inflation, higher interest rates and rising costs making financial decisions more difficult and increasing the importance of trusted information, support and fair systems.
“Having ASIC, government, researchers, consumer advocates, financial counsellors, educators, community organisations and industry represented in the same room is important,” Ms Stewart said.
“Everyone brings different perspectives and there is real value in listening, challenging assumptions and learning from each other.”
Across the day, discussions explored financial education across the life course, money and mental health, prevention and early intervention, technology and AI, consumer protection and trust, workplaces, women’s economic participation, multicultural communities, insurance and climate resilience.
Year 10 students from Hurlstone Agricultural High School also shared their perspectives on money and financial education.
In a closing fireside conversation with Ms Stewart, Honorary Professor Roslyn Russell reflected on her decades of financial wellbeing research, the findings of the 2026 report Australia’s financial wellbeing: an integrated approach, international approaches and what Australia needs to do next.
“What stood out today was how strongly the different conversations connected, from education and mental health to technology, consumer protection and community support,” Professor Russell said.
“Australia has a strong base of research and practice, and there are many valuable international approaches. The next step is to use that evidence more deliberately and work across sectors to strengthen financial wellbeing over the long term.”
Ms Stewart said the Summit and next phase of work demonstrated a growing willingness to collaborate.
“We have a strong foundation to build on. The opportunity now is to turn that momentum into lasting improvements in financial wellbeing for all Australians.”