Financial Basics Foundation continues ST4S Certification for 2026

Financial Basics Foundation is pleased to announce that the ESSI Money Game has successfully renewed its participation in the Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) Product Badge Program for 2026, following its initial qualification in 2024. 

The ST4S Product Badge Program is a nationally recognised framework designed to assist schools in evaluating the privacy, safety and security standards of digital products used in educational settings. The program provides a consistent approach across Australian jurisdictions, helping schools make informed decisions about the technologies they implement. 

Achieving the ST4S Product Badge reflects Financial Basics Foundation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards in data protection, risk management and operational transparency. 

Importantly, ST4S certification is not a one-off accreditation. To remain current, participating organisations must complete annual reassessment processes to demonstrate continued alignment with the latest ST4S requirements. Financial Basics Foundation first achieved ST4S certification in 2024 and has successfully updated its certification for 2025 and 2026. 

This renewal confirms that the ESSI Money Game continues to meet the established benchmarks for:

• • Student data protection
  • Privacy compliance
  • Security governance practices
  • Risk management processes

Schools and education departments are increasingly required to undertake due diligence when selecting digital learning tools. Participation in the ST4S Product Badge Program assures that ESSI Money has been independently assessed against nationally consistent criteria. 

As a free, award-winning financial literacy simulation used by thousands of Australian students, ESSI Money is designed to support educators in delivering engaging, curriculum-aligned financial education. Maintaining ST4S certification ensures that this engagement is supported by robust privacy and security standards. 

Financial Basics Foundation remains committed to continuous improvement across all its digital programs. Maintaining ST4S certification forms part of our broader responsibility to educators, students and school communities to provide high-quality, secure and trusted educational resources. 

Safer Technologies 4 Schools (ST4S) is a national initiative designed to streamline how schools assess the privacy and security standards of digital products used in K–12 education. By providing a consistent framework for evaluating EdTech services, ST4S helps reduce duplication of assessments across jurisdictions and supports schools in making informed, efficient procurement decisions. 

ST4S is an initiative of Education Services Australia (ESA), a national not-for-profit organisation governed by Australia’s State, Territory and Federal education ministers. The program is delivered through the National Schools Interoperability Program (NSIP), a business unit of ESA. 

Strategic direction for ST4S is provided by the ST4S Working Group, which includes Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and nominated representatives from each State and Territory Department of Education, Catholic and Independent education bodies, as well as representation from the New Zealand Ministry of Education. 

Together, this governance structure ensures the framework reflects nationally agreed standards and the evolving needs of school systems.