WHY WE’RE BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ECONOMIC THINKERS IN AUSTRALIA

I was honoured recently to be featured by Made in Australia as part of their Meet the Makers series.

Read the feature here:

https://madeinaustralia.com.au/blogs/news/dr-helen-hoang

Meet other Australian makers:

https://madeinaustralia.com.au/pages/meet-the-makers

The experience reminded me that Australia has always been a nation of makers.

We build businesses, technologies, communities and ideas that punch above their weight on the global stage.

What many people don’t realise is that some of the most important things we can build are not physical products at all. They are the skills, confidence and mindset of the next generation.

A few years ago, my son asked me a simple question:

“Mum, why can’t we have everything at once?”

As an economist, I knew the answer was scarcity.

As a mother, I realised that children are already navigating economics every day. They make choices, face trade-offs, negotiate value and interact with money long before most are formally introduced to economics or financial literacy.

That moment became the beginning of Economics for Kids.

What started around our family kitchen table in Canberra has grown into an Australian education ecosystem that now includes bestselling books, digital games, EconLab workshops and AI-powered tools designed to help children, parents and teachers explore economics and financial literacy in practical and engaging ways.

Today our books are read by families around the world, but everything still starts here in Australia.

We believe economic thinking is a life skill. Just as children learn to read and write, they should also learn how to make decisions, manage resources, understand incentives and think critically about the world around them.

These skills matter more than ever.

Young people are growing up in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, rapid technological change, financial complexity and global uncertainty. The ability to think, adapt and solve problems will be just as important as technical knowledge.

That is why we are now expanding beyond books into educational games, immersive learning experiences, EconLab programs and STEM-focused innovation projects through EconTech.

As founders, it is easy to feel like you’re building alone. One of the things I value most about Made in Australia is its commitment to celebrating Australian businesses and helping tell the stories behind the products, services and innovations being created across the country.

Behind every Australian-made product is a story of persistence, creativity and belief.

The Made in Australia community reminds us that Australian ideas can create impact far beyond our shores.

I am proud that Economics for Kids was created in Australia, inspired by Australian families and supported by Australian communities.

We are not just creating books.

We are helping build the next generation of thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs and citizens.

And like many Australian success stories, it all began with a simple question around a kitchen table.

To discover more Australian founders and businesses, visit:

https://madeinaustralia.com.au/pages/meet-the-makers Helen Hoang