Real Projects, Real Experience
Student-led budget planning initiatives that solve actual financial challenges
We don't believe in fake scenarios. Our students work through genuine budget adjustment cases—sometimes messy, often complex, always valuable. You'll collaborate with mentors who've navigated economic downturns, family businesses, and personal finance crises. By the time you submit your final project, you'll have built something that actually matters.
What Students Actually Build
Recent projects tackled household budget restructuring after job loss, small business expense optimization during supply chain disruptions, and debt repayment strategy modelling for varying income levels. These aren't textbook exercises—they're based on situations our mentors encountered in their consulting work throughout 2024 and early 2025.
- Budget analysis using anonymized real household data
- Scenario modelling with Australian economic conditions
- Adjustment strategies tested against actual market variables
- Presentation formats suitable for financial advisors or personal use
- Peer review process mimicking professional consultancy standards
Who Guides Your Work
Our mentors review every project submission and provide detailed feedback within 72 hours. They're not here to grade you—they're here to help you think through problems the way practitioners do.
Tobias Kellerman
Budget Strategy Mentor
Spent twelve years helping mid-sized businesses survive tight cash flow periods. His feedback tends to focus on what you missed rather than what you got right—which is exactly what you need when you're learning to spot financial vulnerabilities before they become crises.
Aleksander Nowak
Personal Finance Mentor
Former community financial counsellor who's seen every version of household budget collapse imaginable. He'll challenge your assumptions about "necessary expenses" and push you to build adjustment plans that people can actually stick to beyond the first month.
How Projects Unfold
The autumn 2025 cohort runs September through November. You'll work at your own pace within each phase, but deadlines keep things moving forward.
Case Analysis
You receive a detailed financial scenario with income statements, expense breakdowns, and context about the person or business involved. Your job is to identify the core problems and constraints before jumping to solutions.
Strategy Development
Build multiple adjustment approaches and test them against different future scenarios. We provide tools for expense categorization, cash flow projection, and sensitivity analysis. Most students revise their strategies three to four times based on mentor feedback.
Implementation Planning
Create a realistic action plan that accounts for behavioral resistance, timing constraints, and potential setbacks. Your final submission includes both the technical budget model and the human factors that determine whether it'll actually work.
Start Your Project Work
Applications for our autumn 2025 intake open in July. We accept 30 students per cohort to maintain quality feedback and mentor availability.
If you're considering this program, reach out now. We're happy to discuss whether the project structure matches what you're looking to learn.
Get in Touch