Queensland’s savvy student shoppers win a share of $15,000

• More than 700 entries were received in the annual Buy Smart competition
• Competition has been running since 2002
• More than $15,000 in prize money awarded in 2023

Thirty-eight students and 12 schools will share more than $15,000 in prize money awarded through this year’s Office of Fair Trading Buy Smart Competition.

Prizes were awarded to the winning students at a ceremony at Parliament House on Thursday.

Buy Smart provides consumer advice to young people in Year 4 to Year 12 and helps prepare them for their future, armed with consumer and financial literacy skills as well as knowing how to avoid scams.

This year’s Buy Smart competition received 776 entries from 1,055 students across 33 Queensland schools.

The competition’s innovative winners used digital tech to illustrate their understanding about important issues related to shopping or spending by creating films, animations and slideshows.

First place winners include students from:

• St Dympna’s Primary School, Aspley
• Loreto College Coorparoo, and
• Nambour State College.

The Fair Trading Commissioner’s School Champion prize of $1,500 - which recognises outstanding work supporting the importance of teaching consumer literacy to students - was awarded to Cairns State High School.

The Buy Smart Competition is divided into three categories – Years 4 to 6, Years 7 to 9 and Years 10 to 12.

Cash prizes are on offer with the following awarded in each category:

• First – $500 for the entrant/group and $2,000 for the school or organisation
• Second – $250 for the entrant/group and $1,000 for the school or organisation
• Third – $150 for the entrant/group and $500 for the school or organisation.

The judges also awarded highly commended prizes across all categories.

Further information about this year’s winning Buy Smart competition visit, www.qld.gov.au/buysmartcomp.

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

“Congratulations to all of the winners and entrants in this year’s Buy Smart competition.

“With the rising cost of living, it's never been more important to learn how to look after your money, start budgeting and develop an understanding of the decision making around what you buy.

“And with the growing popularity of online shopping among young people, having an understanding about consumer rights can help students shop confidently.

“The Buy Smart competition started in 2002 and we are always excited and inspired to see what students come up with for their entries each year.

“It’s great to see students using their creativity to translate what they have learnt through the program into their competition entries and of course this knowledge will benefit them for life.”

ENDS