Buy Smart Online campaign brings consumer advice to students’ devices

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched a new initiative to encourage young Queenslanders to be smart consumers.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the Buy Smart Online digital initiative shares important consumer awareness information with Queensland students.

“The Buy Smart Online initiative provides parents and teachers with a suite of video resources on important topics such as financial literacy skills, scams awareness, and consumer rights,” she said.

“It includes a video about buying your first car, which has lots of important advice for students in the later years of high school, while our video for primary school students addresses how to avoid sneaky scammers.”

The videos join the OFT’s student activities and materials already on offer, including interactive puzzles, lesson plans, and video playlists on common consumer topics, such as national consumer protection and fair trading laws.

Each year the OFT runs the Buy Smart Competition, encouraging students to learn about their consumer rights.  Young consumers in Years 4 to 12 can win a share of $15,000 by submitting an entry that demonstrates their understanding of a consumer issue.

“Social distancing requirements have made it challenging for the OFT to continue its usual Buy Smart Competition educational activities, including school visits and in-classroom presentations,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“These videos will help schools fill that gap as we work to ensure all students know their consumer rights.”

Students, parents and teachers who would like to know more about OFT’s Buy Smart Online initiative and the Buy Smart Competition can visit the OFT at https://www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading or phone 13 74 68 (QGOV).

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008