Smart-shopping students urged to compete for $15,000 worth of prizes

• Queensland school students are encouraged to enter the Office of Fair Trading Buy Smart Competition
• The Buy Smart Competition, which helps students learn about consumer rights, is now open and closes on 13 September 2024
• Queensland schools and students have a chance to win a share in over $15,000

Calling all Queensland schools and students. This year’s Buy Smart Competition is now underway and the Office of Fair Trading wants you to be a part of it.

Students can get creative by showing their understanding of the issues faced by consumers today—such as avoiding scammers, buying a first car or safe online shopping.

Winning entries from previous years include board games, music videos, puzzles, interactive quizzes and apps.

It’s vital for young people in every part of the state to have an understanding of their consumer rights—and what to look out for—so this year, the Office of Fair Trading is putting the call out to regional and remote schools to get involved.

Students from years 4 to 12 can submit entries through their school, club, youth group or similar organisation by 13 September to be in the running for a $500 first prize in each category, as well as a generous $2,000 prize for their school.

However, Buy Smart isn't just about winning prizes. It's a fantastic opportunity for students to learn essential life skills by diving into the world of marketplace issues and understanding their consumer rights. And it's a great way to prepare them for making smart purchasing decisions.

More information about this year’s Buy Smart competition and how to enter is on the Fair Trading website at www.qld.gov.au/buysmartcomp.

To request a free presentation by the Office of Fair Trading on Buy Smart topics, visit the website.

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“It’s never been more important to be a savvy consumer.

“We’ve held the Buy Smart Competition for 22 years, but it always surprises me how innovatively students apply what they’ve learnt about smart shopping and consumer rights.

“This year we would love more rural and regional students across Queensland to get involved and gain a better understanding of things like budgeting and saving, getting a refund or spotting a scam.

“There are free resources for teachers and our officers at the Office of Fair Trading can even deliver a presentation to assist students."

Quotes attributable to Senior Teacher Suzie Taylor from Cairns State High School, the 2023 Commissioner’s School Champion prize winner:

“The Buy Smart Competition provided the opportunity to enrich our students’ learning environment and offered our students an understanding of real-world marketplace issues, as well as consolidating their individual rights and responsibilities as consumers and potential future business owners. 

“Engaging with the Buy Smart Competition allowed students to be creative in their ideation, consumer law research and final artefact development. It was exciting to see the students’ confidence in themselves grow, as did their understanding of consumer law and financial literacy.”

Quotes attributable to Business Teacher Yolande van Eeden from Trinity College Gladstone:

“The competition provides students an opportunity to think creatively and critically about key consumer issues. It is a brilliant platform for them to develop their 21st century skills and be equipped to be responsible citizens in the future.

“Trinity sees it as a worthwhile competition that truly assists students to think of creative ways to educate the younger generation about consumer rights and responsibilities.”

Quotes attributable to STEM and Enrichment teacher Rebecca Rowley from Kurwongbah State School:

“It’s really important as a lifelong skill to have the knowledge of avoiding scams, spending wisely, being a wise consumer and knowing your rights as a customer. Buy Smart is certainly a valuable project, even if you’re not entering the competition, learning about these concepts is a vital skill that students need in their journey through life and into adulthood.

Year 5s in particular cover financial planning and purchasing, so it [Buy Smart] goes hand in hand with that topic. It’s very easy to implement [Buy Smart] into any program from Year 4 to Year 6 in the primary sector.”

ENDS