Sarah Milton Tax, Super + You Competition Interview

Financial Literacy Gets a Boost with the Return of ATO's 2019 Tax, Super + You Competition

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) today announced the return of its Tax, Super + You competition. The annual competition aims to encourage high school students to think outside the box and develop creative ideas that highlight the value tax and super brings to the community.

In its third year, the competition is open until 23 August 2019 for Year 7 to 12 students to enter. There is a total cash prize pool of over $6,000 to be won, with the finalists to be announced in September 2019.

Judging panellist and ATO Assistant Commissioner Sally Bektas said: "The competition is gaining momentum year on year and we continue to be impressed by the calibre of entries, imagination and positive reception. We look forward to seeing the creativity and enthusiasm of high school students all over the nation through their entries this year."

Well-regarded Australian television presenter and personal finance expert, David Koch is also part of the judging panel.

Animated videos, drawings and video skits were among the inspiring entries received last year. One of last year's winning entries was a superannuation rap by student Sarah Milton from Charters Towers, Queensland.

To help students learn about tax and super in an interactive and engaging way, the ATO has also published teaching resources that school teachers can incorporate into classroom lesson plans. Further information for teachers is available at https://www.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/competition-teachers-kit

For more information about the 2019 Tax, Super + You competition, visit https://www.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/competition

Interview with Sarah Milton

Question: Can you tell us about the Superannuation Rap video you created for the 2018 Tax, Super + You competition?

Sarah Milton: The Superannuation Rap video that I created for the 2018 Tax, Super + You competition is a mixture of Aussie hip-hop and the core of Aussie retirement.


Question: What originally inspired your idea to make a rap about Super?

Sarah Milton: My English teacher Mr. Thomson was the main inspiration behind the Superannuation rap. Mr. Thomson was a part of The Winnie Coopers, an Aussie hip-hop band who had a love for all things literature. He encouraged me to take a hip-hop approach to the competition, as we had previously dealt with poetry in English.

Question: What did you learn when creating the Superannuation Rap?

Sarah Milton: During the process of creating the Superannuation Rap, I discovered and developed a deeper understanding about the time and effort it takes to create not only a fun and entertaining rap but also a music video that matches. My English teacher, Mr. Thomson, discovered the Tax, Super + You competition on Tuesday the week the entries closed. The opportunity was too great to pass up, so I got to work straight away. I found incorporating the superannuation information into the rap challenging, but I kept working at it, and by Tuesday afternoon, the Superannuation rap was ready for recording. My music teacher, Mr. Price, had previous experience in recording and filming music videos and was more than happy to help in the technical aspect of the entry. We recorded the rap during lunchtime, and on Thursday afternoon, we set out, filming the music video in various locations across the school campus. I also had the help of my classmate Tom Gordon as my backup performer. On Thursday night Mr. Price edited the Super video, and submitted the final copy, with hours to spare before the entries closed. Without Mr. Thomson, Mr. Price, and Tom's help, the Superannuation Rap video would have never existed.


Question: Who teaches you about tax and Super and the importance of finance?

Sarah Milton: Most of my knowledge about tax, super, and the importance of finance has come from my elective subject Economics and Business. Last year, I completed several units on the subject of first jobs and budgeting for the future. We spent several weeks learning about tax and super during this time, which significantly helped in the creation of my Super rap video. I also know the importance of tax and superannuation as I am a part of the workforce, and from now to even beyond retirement, tax and super will be a significant part of my finances.


Question: Can you share your advice for entrants of the 2019 Tax, Super + You competition?

Sarah Milton: I would encourage entrants for this year's competition to find their own approach to the competition which they enjoy- whether it be a voice-over video, rap video, comic strip, etc. I found the creative process of the competition, although very rushed, extremely fun, and motivating because it was a form of communication I enjoyed creating. It is also equally important to have an entertaining entry, as the mission of the competition is to get young people not only educated but involved and excited about all things tax and super. The best way to teach young people about a traditionally "boring" subject is to modernise it into a form of communication they understand best.


Interview by Brooke Hunter