About Headstart Money

Headstart Money brings real-world financial literacy into Australian schools through engaging, practical talks led by Theo Kolos, an experienced mortgage broker. After years of helping adults navigate home loans, budgets, and credit, Theo saw first-hand how many people reach adulthood without the foundational money knowledge they need to thrive. He founded Headstart Money to change that — by reaching students before the costly mistakes happen.

Our program is built for secondary school students, from Year 9 through to Year 12, and is tailored to the groups we meet — whether that's a single classroom of thirty or a full year-level assembly of a hundred or more. Each session translates dense financial concepts into plain language and relatable scenarios: how tax actually works on a payslip, how to build a budget that survives real life, how credit and loans compound for or against you, and what everyday living costs really look like once you leave school.

The curriculum covers four core pillars — taxation, budgeting, credit and debt, and real living costs — designed to map onto the financial decisions young people face in their first years of independence. Schools can book a single focused session or a half-day workshop, and every talk is delivered by Theo personally, not a rotating presenter.

Headstart Money is built and run by Theo Kolos, operating under his mortgage broking practice and the Headstart Money brand. The mission is simple: give every student a clear, honest, and memorable head start with money — the kind of head start most of us wish we'd had. If you're a teacher, careers coordinator, or school leader looking to equip your students with practical financial confidence, we'd love to hear from you.