MENU

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Welcome toStart counting

A movement to empower
women to make wise life
and money decisions.

Welcome toStart counting

A movement to empower
women to make wise life
and money decisions.

A GROWING PROBLEM

Globally, women are an economic force more powerful than India and China combined.1 They are the key financial decision-makers in most households and, in Australia; a female breadwinner is the new normal.

Women have everything it takes to make wise life and financial decisions, but reports continue to show that women trail men in their earnings, savings, superannuation balances, and confidence in making long-term money choices. At current forecasts, many women will end up living in poverty in retirement if things don’t change.2

That’s why we've created Start Counting – a program that empowers women with the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to take control of their lives.

1. Source: The Female Economy, Harvard Business Review ,2009. 2. Source: What Pay Equity means for Women, Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency. Additional sources: *‘80% of Australian women make or influence all purchasing decisions’ (Source: Facts about Women, Women’s Network Australia.) *‘Women aged 25 to 40 are the fastest growing wealth demographic’(Source: Harnessing the Power of the Purse: Female Investors and Global Opportunities for Growth, Centre for Talent Innovation, 2014.) * ‘The women you work with have the potential to increase Australia’s GDP by $25 bn’ (Source: A case for boosting the female workforce, Grattan Institute, 2013.)

A GROWINGPROBLEM

Globally, women are an economic force more powerful than India and China combined.1 They are the key financial decision-makers in most households and, in Australia; a female breadwinner is the new normal. Women have everything it takes to make wise life and financial decisions, but ... more

btn

Your chance to create change

A UNIQUE SOCIAL INITIATIVE BACKED BY NAB.

Start Counting is about more than money. Facilitated by coaches and psychologists, the Start Counting program is a personal development opportunity for women to learn tools which support lasting wellbeing and mindset in many areas – life, career, relationships, money and more.

We know money is the biggest cause of stress for women in Australia and while your business finances may be in order; this one day program gives you an opportunity to reflect on your personal finances and general wellbeing in an inspiring environment. We make it easy for you to put actions in place and focus on building your successful and sustainable business.

In March 2017, two special events were run in Melbourne for interested women – mainly small business owners. Normally priced at $950 per person, in March we hosted over 300 women from over a hundred organisations with complimentary places. The events filled quickly and we are not currently taking further bookings. To stay up to date with future offers, join our mailing list.

STAY UPDATED >

The organisations<br/>that have made<br/>it count The organisations<br/>that have made<br/>it count
what they’re saying
“Start Counting has turned my life around.” Sarah, 28
case studies >

WHY IT WORKS

“IT’S NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE, YET THE NAB START COUNTING PROGRAM HAS GENERATED SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE LIVES AND FINANCES OF PARTICIPANTS. I RARELY SEE EFFECT SIZES AS LARGE AS THIS IN THE PROGRAMS I MEASURE. ALL THIS WITH ONLY A SINGLE DAY OF CONTACT TIME.”

Scarlet Bennett, Behavioural Change Analyst

CONFIDENCE, RESILIENCE, GOALS, DIRECTION + POSTIVE ACTION

Drawing on positive psychology and personal development tools, participants learn important skills to achieve lasting wellbeing.

Start Counting:

  • Start Counting made a significant difference to participants who arrived with a gloomier outlook, as well as boosting the confidence of those who were already fairly confident before the program began.
  • Significantly increased clarity around participant life goals.
  • Prompted participants to make plans for how they would achieve their life goals, and the impact was statistically significant immediately after the workshop with the effect maintained at the six-month mark.
“I would say that this program is one of the best things that I’ve ever done and I’m so glad that I actually was invited to do it. It really opens up your eyes to you as a person and your future and it’ll change your life.” Jodi
“The Start Counting program has switched me into gear, I’m not taking so much of a backseat approach. My head in the sand approach wasn’t that helpful. I now feel a lot more confidence and control in that aspect of my life” Vanessa

REDUCING STRESS AROUND MONEY + DRIVING POSITIVE ACTION

With a firm grounding in what they want from life participants then shift their attention to their relationship with money.

Start Counting:

  • significantly reduced stress when making financial decisions and significantly increased control over finances.
  • brought a 37% increase in ability to manage money through unexpected life changes.
  • increased alignment between financial decision-making and life goals by 46%. The majority of participants had not been actively aligning their money decisions with what they wanted out of life. The Start Counting program prompted them to start doing it.
  • increased confidence in managing money by 23%. Participants had actively engaged in planning for their financial futures and they became even more active over the following three months.
  • drove a large increase in financial awareness through five OECD variables: keeping track of finances, planning ahead, comparison shopping of financial products, staying informed and exercising financial control. An improvement of 67% was still evident six months after participants left the program.
“It’s not about financial planning, it’s about the attitude you have towards money and the effect and the influence it has on you. It’s made me feel a lot more empowered about money.” Laura
“It makes sense that finance and money is in focus. However, there’s a lot more that’s covered, like positive thinking – how can I take that stop sign down that’s in front of me? How can I plan for the future? What do I do, maybe on a regular basis, that slows me down? What can I change in my environment to improve myself?”Claudia