Started in a Shared Office Space
Back in 2019, three people who'd spent years watching friends struggle with basic money decisions decided to try something different. Not another financial blog. Not another investment platform. Just honest conversations about the stuff most people don't learn until they're already in trouble.
We rented a corner desk in a Wollongong coworking space and invited anyone curious about managing money better to drop by for coffee. Twelve people showed up that first Saturday morning. Now we work with thousands across Australia.
Why We Actually Started This
One of our founding members spent her twenties fixing financial messes that could've been avoided with a single clear conversation. The other two watched university graduates take jobs they hated because student debt made them panic about every decision.
What frustrated us most wasn't that people made mistakes with money. Everyone does that. It was how isolated people felt when dealing with basic financial questions. Like asking for help with budgeting or understanding superannuation meant admitting some personal failure.
So we built something where those conversations could happen without judgment. Where someone could ask "Should I consolidate my credit cards?" without feeling foolish. Where the answer wasn't another sales pitch but actual information.
Our first workshop covered superannuation basics. Eight people attended. Three of them stayed afterward for two hours asking questions. That's when we realized how hungry people were for straightforward financial information delivered by humans who remembered what confusion felt like.
How We Got Here
Launched weekend workshops from a borrowed office space. Started with superannuation and budgeting basics. First year served 147 people.
Moved to dedicated space on Keira Street. Expanded content to cover debt management, emergency funds, and first home buying strategies.
Launched structured learning paths after feedback showed people wanted progressive skill building. Introduced decision tree tools for personalized guidance.
Added industry trend analysis and economic context modules. Started monthly community discussions on evolving financial challenges.
Introduced mentorship connections and peer learning groups. Current focus on adapting content for changing economic conditions.
Planning expanded programs starting September 2025, with specialized content for different life stages and financial situations.
People Behind the Programs
Margot Belford
Financial Education Director
Spent a decade helping people untangle complicated financial situations before joining kalethyrosun. Still thinks the best financial tool is a clear conversation. Designs most of our learning paths and decision frameworks.
Shelly Renfro
Community Programs Manager
Organizes all our workshops and community discussions. Previously worked in adult education and kept noticing how financial topics made people shut down. Focused on creating environments where asking questions feels natural.
What Guides Our Approach
Context Over Prescriptions
We don't hand out generic advice. Your financial situation includes factors only you understand. Our job is helping you think through decisions using frameworks that adapt to your actual circumstances.
Honest About Limitations
Financial education doesn't solve everything. Structural economic challenges exist that personal budgeting can't fix. We focus on what you can control while being realistic about what you can't.
Progress Not Perfection
Financial literacy develops gradually. Small improvements in how you understand and manage money compound over time. We celebrate incremental progress rather than expecting dramatic transformations.
Learning Through Questions
The best financial education happens through guided questioning rather than lecture-style information dumps. We use decision trees and interactive discussions that help you discover answers relevant to your situation.
Next Programs Start September 2025
We're planning autumn workshops covering debt management strategies, superannuation optimization, and first home buyer considerations. Registration opens June 2025. If you want updates about upcoming programs or have questions about what we offer, reach out.