NSW students are being asked to put their thinking caps on to come up with innovative messages about consumer rights as part of NSW Fair Trading’s Money Stuff Challenge.

Minister responsible for Fair Trading Victor Dominello said the competition, which is open to students from Years 8 to 10, had regional and metropolitan prize categories as well as a People’s Choice Award which allows the public to vote for their favourite finalist.

“The Money Stuff Challenge encourages students to become subject experts in consumer law and to share those learning with their peers through engaging educational material,” Mr Dominello said.

“Students are in line for some great cash prizes, with $250 on offer for individual students and $2000 for schools which produce the most innovative and effective messages about consumer rights.”

The Money Stuff Challenge focuses on areas where young consumers begin to make independent purchases like signing up to a mobile phone plan, online shopping or purchasing a vehicle.

The program encourages high students to learn more about their consumer rights, by producing educational material for their peers covering areas such as how to get a refund and avoiding scams.

Information packs are being distributed to schools containing a student guide outlining entry requirements and a teacher guide for running the classroom component of the competition.

Entries can include short movies, websites, magazines, radio plays and more and can be submitted online via the Money Stuff website. A gallery of past winners can be viewed atwww.moneystuff.net.au.

The Competition has been running for more than a decade and last year there were over 1,000 students across NSW who were involved. It is run as an in-class assessment for students meeting the learning needs of the commerce syllabus.

Postal entries close 24 July 2015 and online entries are due by 31 July 2015 with announcements on winners expected in September. For more information please visit the Fair Trading website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or call 13 32 20.