INTHEBLACK June/July 2024 - Magazine - Page 17
WALLETSMART APP
In addition to standard accounting subjects,
the new degree spans financial planning,
advanced tax, superannuation, financial services,
retirement and succession planning.
Cull’s enthusiasm for the course is evident.
“What is great about this is students who
haven’t thought about financial planning,
when they leave, they then pick those
subjects up and study a major or a double
major. This means they have choices and
are not limited when they graduate. This is
helpful when they enter the workforce.”
Seeing her students take the lessons from
the course and apply them in real-world
settings is one of the rewards of Cull’s job.
This is particularly true when it comes to
the students’ own financial future.
“I would almost be in tears, because I was
so happy to see what the students learned
for themselves, not just to take away for
their future employment.
“It is what I value the most – when
students study retirement planning and its
complexities, and then realise they need to
set themselves up early. It is great to see
them engage in their finances.”
More recently, Cull has developed a new
micro-credential on the basics of personal
finance, and she hopes that this will help
Dr Michelle Cull FCPA’s desire to help more
students to manage their finances provided the
impetus for Cull and her team to develop the
WalletSmart app.
“I found that some students did not understand
how some finance basics worked. I thought,
‘Wouldn’t it be great if there was an app where
they can go and learn from a trusted source?’.
There is so much on the internet that is not
correct,” she explains.
The WalletSmart app has no bank branding and
covers topics such as savings, compound interest,
superannuation and student fees. It offers tips
for sharing expenses, buying a car and choosing
insurance cover.
more Australians to better manage their
personal finances.
“The content was co-designed with the
community to ensure it directly addresses
their needs. It is currently free to enrol,
and participants receive a digital badge when
they successfully complete the short course,”
she explains.
As someone who has experience in both
the corporate world and in academia, Cull
has this advice to offer.
“In everything I have done through work and
at university, my accounting degree has served
me well. I really do feel this has set me up for
anything I do in life. That is a message I want
others who study accounting to understand.”
UPSKILL
with the
CPA Australia
Learning Insights
2024 course
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 17
