Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mind the Gap?

Mind the Gap is an online resource and course of study for Australian teenagers entering the workforce. It explores the Australian tax system and an employee’s obligations under the system. Our purpose at Mind the Gap is to ease the transition of Australian youth into the working world!

What’s included in the course?

MTG constitutes eleven units each comprising of a 2-8 minute animation and a graded quiz, all accessed from any internet-connected computer or tablet. By the end of the course the student’s grade is finalised and a certificate of completion is produced for each participant.

What does the content cover?

MTG contains eleven core taxation units. The units cover the foundational tax structures and jargon that the average teenager is confronted with when accepting his/her first job, and allows him/her to act prudently in tax affairs once in the working world. They are listed below:

What is Tax?
What is the Australian Tax Office?
What is a financial year?
What is a tax file number?
What is Withholding Tax?
What is a PAYG Payment Summary?
What is a tax deduction?
What is a tax return?
What is a tax agent?
What is a tax assessment?
How can I stay organised?

How does it work?

The student’s progression through the site is dependent only on the student’s pace and his/her computer system. All material is available upon log-in. The student can watch and re-watch the animated tutorials (2-8 minutes in length) and then complete the questionnaire to test his/her learning. The units build on one another, and the student can re-attempt any unit to maximise results.
Upon completion, the student is graded with a result and a certificate of completion is generated.

How long does it take to complete?

The course can be completed in as short as five hours in its entirety. Access to the material is granted for a year; any part of the course can be accessed and returned to at any time during that period. The course is easy to break down into bite-sized pieces that fit into short periods throughout the school day or at home.

Each of Mind the Gap’s eleven units contain one animation (2-8 minutes in length) and one quiz (usually ten questions, taking ten or more minutes). To allow twenty-thirty minutes per unit would provide a safe buffer.

How much does Mind the Gap cost?

For the general public, the full course is available for $15.00. We offer discounted prices for large groups; for any group of fifteen or more students, we can offer as low as $9.00 per student. Payments can be made during sign-up. If price is a major issue for your organisation, contact Mind the Gap directly.

What is the 'Year of Hayden' Year 12 Promotion?

To celebrate our launch, year twelves across the country can enjoy the Mind the Gap program entirely free of charge for 2015. The only requirement is that a school representative contact our office with the number of students in your year twelve cohort, so that we can prepare a voucher code for log-in.

In which Australian states and territories is Mind the Gap available?

Mind the Gap is available nation-wide across Australia. The content addresses the federal tax system; all content is relevant for all states and territories. The content is available online anywhere, any time.

Is all your content appropriate for the school environment?

Absolutely. The content contains animations with characters interacting in a comedic fashion, but does not refer to or use any form of violence or aggression, religious references, inappropriate language, sexuality or any other potentially offensive material. If you are a school representative with concerns about the material, contact the Mind the Gap office and we will be glad to help.

What about privacy and cyber safety? What personal information do you ask for, and what do you do with it?

Mind the Gap takes privacy and cyber-safety very seriously, particularly within the school environment.

Each participant can choose his/her own username and password at sign-up. The only information we require during sign-up is an email address, and in some instances the name of the school facilitating; we do not require physical addresses, phone numbers or any other identifying or personal information. As there is no communication between accounts, the site cannot be used as a social forum or mode of communication. It therefore cannot be used as a medium for bullying or other cyber un-safe activities such as meeting unknown people.

Currently, the only social media facility Mind the Gap utilises is the ability to post a participant's Mind the Gap grades to facebook. This is at the participant's discretion, and there is no further communication between our site and facebook, nor any other social media site. It is similar to taking a picture of your score-card and exporting it to another location. It is entirely one-way (facebook has no influence on our site), and will only occur if the participant chooses to use the feature.

Any information entered into our site during sign-up or at any other time is used only for our administration and is not shared with or sold to any other party. Your cyber safety, and the cyber safety of your students is of the utmost importance to us, and is never a matter of compromise. For more information, see our privacy policy, or contact Mind the Gap.

How does Mind the Gap fit into the curriculum?

Mind the Gap addresses the following descriptors of the curriculum by year and learning area:

Economics and Business:
- Year 8:
  - The rights and responsibilities of consumers and businesses in Australia(ACHEK029)
- Year 9:
  - Why and how people manage financial risks and rewards in the current Australian and global financial landscape (ACHEK040)
  - The roles and responsibilities of participants in the changing Australian or global workplace (ACHEK042)
- Year 10:
  - The ways that governments manage the economy to improve economic performance and living standards (ACHEK052)
Work Studies
- Year 9
  - Identify the importance of rights and responsibilities for employers and workers (ACWSCL019)
  - Investigate a wide range of occupations, and the skills and personal qualities required in these fields (ACWSCL006)
- Year 10
  - Explain the range of skills and attributes necessary to work effectively in the 21stcentury (ACWSCL025)

Mind the Gap addresses the following specific aims of the National Curriculum:

Economics and Business:
- Development of enterprising behaviours contributing to the prosperity of the individual.
- Reasoning and interpretation to make informed decisions.
- Understandings that will allow participation as financially and business-literate citizens.
Work Studies
- Knowledge of the world of work and the importance of lifelong learning.
- Capacities to manage careers, change and transitions in an uncertain and changing future.
- Skills and resilience to meet the demands of their present and future learning and work.

Who prepares the Mind the Gap content?

Meet the Mind the Gap team!

Mind the Gap is the brainchild of Tyler Jenkins, an Australian actor and business graduate with vocational experience in youth programs in Australia and abroad. Tyler began working on Mind the Gap in 2010.
Mei-Ling Luu has her Masters in Commerce from Curtin University. As a Perth-based banker with respected financial acumen she has been essential to the program since she began collaborating with Mind the Gap in 2012.

The content has been verified by tax specialists.

Is Mind the Gap only available to schools?

No, Mind the Gap is open to the general public, as well as to any school or institution. Depending on the number of participants in the course, we may be able to offer discounted pricing for large groups.

Is there any minimum or maximum age?

No. The course is aimed at 13-19 year old Australians, but we believe that anyone can benefit from the program. Participants under the age of eight might struggle with the content.

What will Mind the Gap allow me to do?

By the conclusion of the course the participant will understand his/her basic obligations under the law, understand essential tax structures and concepts, distinguish between most common tax documents and jargon, and know where to go for further help. Mind the Gap is your foundation to the tax world.
Disclaimer:
Mind the Gap is not designed to produce tax experts.
Mind the Gap is not designed to allow participants to complete his/her own tax return without the assistance of a tax expert. Mind the Gap advises professional assistance with all financial decision-making and paperwork.
Mind the Gap and its content is general in nature does not constitute financial advice, nor can Mind the Gap be held liable for any errors/misdemeanours in the tax or financial life of the participant. Each participant is responsible for his or her own tax and financial conduct.