Calls, messaging and browsing

Choosing a plan

Mobile credit

Mobile phone advertising

Security

Getting started

This set of digital activities for Years 5 – 6 primary school children supports the development of consumer and financial literacy skills related to mobile phones such as understanding that usage has consequences on mobile phone credit, what you need versus what you want, and that a mobile phone needs to be protected like wallet.

The learning design features branching scenarios which provide opportunities for children to role play within a scenario, make decisions on mobile phone use and then see the consequences of their actions. Through the use of status meters, children are encouraged to reflect on their mobile phone use, the views of a peer group within the scenario and how their parents would react to how they have used the mobile phone within the scenario.

Positive behaviours are reinforced throughout the scenarios with references to data meters, checking with parents for advice and guidance, andinformation on how to get help from your mobile phone provider or other agencies. On completion of an activity children can try it again to change the way they use the mobile phone and improve the overall outcome of the scenario. Some scenarios feature an interactive slider which allows children to experiment with mobile phone usage to see the consequences on their plan.

Activity duration is approximately 15 minutes per scenario, although this may vary if children are undertaking them with an adult or as a self guided activity. This set of activities can be used on a computer or iPad.

Besides these Parent notes the front page of each activity provides links to:

  • Teacher notes
  • Curriculum mapping
  • End user specifications
  • Contact details
  • Copyright information

What are the activities?

PLEASE NOTE: All activities are simulated within the scenarios. There is no direction or requirement to subscribe to real apps or services, make calls on a mobile phone, or send SMS messages.

Calls, Messaging and Browsing

This activity features an interactive mobile phone usage tool. Children can see the impact that voice, text and data usage have on a pre-paid plan. In this scenario children have a $30 pre-paid plan.

Choosing a Plan

In the Choosing a Plan activity children see the mobile phone needs of four different teens and match these to a mobile phone plan. Each selection the child makes receives feedback on why a particular plan may or may not suit the teen.

Mobile Credit

An interactive tool allows children to explore mobile phone usage and its impact on mobile credit. In this scenario children have a $30 pre-paid plan which includes credit, texts and data. Once children have explored mobile phone usage and its impact on mobile credit they provide advice to other teens within the scenario to reinforce learning.

Mobile Phone Advertising

This scenario allows children to explore how people find out about mobile phones. They watch a 'television advertisement', hear from 'friends', and talk to their 'parents', then access feedback on each of these options.

Security

Different security issues are explored in this scenario including giving away personal data by entering a competition, subscribing to a 'dodgy app' that steals data, and leaving a mobile phone unattended in a public place. Students are provided with opportunities to respond to each security issue and see the potential consequences of their decisions such as extra mobile charges, theft from a bank account and cyberbullying.
Where to get help?

The following table is available at the end of this document as a separate printable handout for easy reference.

Issue / First point of contact / Still need help?
Cyberbullying / Parents/school / Kids Helpline

1800 55 1800
Mobile handset problem / Mobile service provider / (Where the handset is supplied as part of a contract)
TIO:
1800 062 058 or through their website at
(Where the handset is bought outright by the consumer)
Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs in the consumer's state.
Phone plan issue / Mobile service provider / TIO
Post-paid account billing or pre-paid account issues / Mobile service provider / TIO
Premium services / Premium service provider / TIO
Theft – bank account / Banking provider
Theft – mobile hand set / Mobile service provider / Local Police
Service problem / Mobile service provider / TIO
Scams / ACCC via the ScamWatch website at or 1300 795 995.
Spam / ACMA Spam SMS service 0429 999 888 (standard rates charged by your mobile provider will apply)

How you can support your child’s consumer and financial literacy learning at home

A strong education for your child must include consumer and financial literacy. Our children are growing up in a rapidly changing world which deliberately targets them as consumers from a young age through advertising and marketing campaigns. Mobile phone ownership among teens is high, with secondary school a trigger point for many. Young people need to learn from their parents from an early age how to develop discerning skills and behaviours across a range of consumer and financial real world contexts.

One of the simplest ways of encouraging financial wellbeing and an independent and secure future is to encourage children to learn to plan, save, spend, invest, donate and know the difference between what they really need and what they want as they grow. Many schools across Australia are now incorporating consumer and financial literacy learning into their curriculum to help make the next generation more financially aware consumers.

There are many activities you can do at home with your children to help reinforce what and how your child is learning. Here are some initial suggestions:

  • Give your child an allowance and discuss splitting it – some to spend and some to save or put away to achieve a small goal. A good starting point could be a spending allowance of 50% and 50% set aside in a bank account.
  • Open a bank account in your child’s name and regularly add funds to it. Discuss this whole process with your child. Encourage your child to watch savings grow over time. An online account may be the simplest way to achieve this while demonstrating that money is no longer always visible. As the child gets older they can investigate which financial institutions and accounts pay the most interest and have the lowest fees.
  • Talk about financial goals. What do they want? How much should be saved each week for this target? How long will it take to achieve with a range of savings plans?
  • Talk about budgets – explain how your income has to meet your needs and work on a ‘pretend’ household budget with your child. You could explain how much it costs each week to provide food for the family and as they get older the utility costs of electricity, gas and water. Over time you could use the utilities to actively engage children in environmental energy saving solutions for the house with the incentive of sharing the dollar savings.
  • Discuss the value of money – what are things worth? Is quality worth paying for? How much does it cost to buy the groceries each week? How much does it cost to run a smart phone and the internet? How much can you buy with $20 in a supermarket?
  • Set good examples – demonstrate to your child that you’re willing to put aside personal wants in order to meet the needs of the family and others. Talk to your child about needs versus wants when spending especially when they are asking for things. Do they really need it or is it something they can live without?
  • What are the many ways that individuals and households receive income? It is good for children to understand that for adults and households there are many sources of income; however income is a finite resource. Parents and carers may choose to give their children pocket money which can act as a regular income and learning tool. If you are able, consider offering your child the opportunity to earn more from additional jobs.
  • How is money spent? Does spending from a plastic card mean that budgets can be stretched? Today’s children don’t often see adults spending cash. You buy your groceries using a debit or credit card and you get cash out with the receipt. So perhaps your child observes you handing over a card, and receiving cash back from the salesperson. At home you pay your bills and make purchases online. Money is much more easily accessed than it was and is almost invisible. You might want to discuss that you need to pay back borrowed money and how that costs more than saving for what you want.
  • What is marketing and what do young people need to be aware of? Talk to your child about how things look glossier and bigger and better on television or in catalogues because marketing people work hard to make them look appealing and tempting. Do we really need what we see? Discuss impulse buying and what happens to our budget if we constantly buy things that are outside our budget. Is it really as good as it looks, or is it the idea or the image rather than the value of the product that is being bought?
  • When you child receives their first mobile phone, show them how to check data usage, discuss ways to minimise data use, set boundaries on when and where the mobile is used, and involve them in setting up a monthly budget for their mobile phone.

Further information

For Parents/Carers as teachers:

  • Read the Teacher notes that you can find attached to these activities.
  • Go through the activities with your child at: teaching.moneysmart.gov.au/resource-centre.
  • Visitteaching.moneysmart.gov.au and view expert videos or read more about ASIC’s MoneySmart Teaching initiative.
  • Familiarise yourself with ‘Making Cents’ -an excellent section dedicated to parents at teaching.moneysmart.gov.au/resource-centre/teaching-resources/makingcents.

For Parents/Carers personal money management:

  • ASIC’s MoneySmart website is a free consumer site that helps you to make the most of your money. It has calculators, tools and tips. For simple guidance you can trust, visit moneysmart.gov.au or call 1300 300 630.

For Parents/Carers mobile phone management:

  • To find out more about mobile phones visit:


Acknowledgements

Australian Competitions and Consumer Commission (ACCC) promotes competition and fair trade in markets to benefit consumers, businesses, and the community. We also regulate national infrastructure services. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with Australian competition, fair trading, and consumer protection laws - in particular the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) is the peak industry body representing Australia’s mobile telecommunications industry.AMTA members include mobile Carriage Service Providers (CSPs), handset manufacturers, retail outlets, network equipment suppliers and other suppliers to the industry.

Cybersmart is a national cybersafety and cybersecurity education program managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) as part of the Australian Government'scommitmentto cybersafety. The program is specifically designed to meet the needs of its target audiences of children, young people, parents, teachers and library staff.

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is a free and independent agency that provides assistance to consumers and small businesses who have not been able to resolve a problem with their landline, mobile or internet service provider.


Issue / First point of contact / Still need help?
Cyberbullying / Parents/school / Kids Helpline

1800 55 1800
Mobile handset problem / Mobile service provider / Where the handset is supplied as part of a contract go to Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
1800 062 058 or through their website at
Where the handset is bought outright by the consumer go to Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs in the consumer’s state.
Phone plan issue / Mobile service provider / Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
Post-paid account billing or pre-paid account issues / Mobile service provider / Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
Premium services / Premium service provider / Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
Theft – bank account / Banking provider / Mobile service provider
Theft – mobile hand set / Mobile service provider / Local Police
Service problem / Mobile service provider / Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO)
Scams / ACCC via the ScamWatch website at
or 1300 795 995.
Spam / ACMA Spam SMS service 0429 999 888
(standard rates charged by your mobile provider will apply)

Note: State and territory consumer protection agencies can provide you with information and advice about your rights and options.