Graduation Gifts in Australia: Money Leis, Gift Sets and Funny Presents

What makes a good graduation gift

Graduations are a mix of pride, relief and party. People search for a graduation gift, graduation presents or gifts for a grad because they want something that marks the moment and is not just another card. Whether the graduate is finishing school, a trade or a university degree, the best gifts are personal, light-hearted and easy to keep.

Money is a natural theme. Cash is a common graduation gift, and a novelty money gift adds a laugh and a photo. A lei of prop notes around the neck at the ceremony photo is fun, and it is clearly a novelty: the real gift, such as cash or a voucher, goes in the card.

Graduation gifts with a money theme

Here are the gifts we sell that suit a graduation. All prices include GST and shipping is free.

The Graduation Money Gift Set is the simplest choice: it combines a bundle of mixed notes (20 $20-style, 20 $50-style and 16 $100-style) with a lei, so the graduate has a gift to open and a lei to wear.

Graduation gifts for guys and girls

Many people search for graduation gifts for guys, gifts for graduation for her, or a gift for a boy who is graduating. The theme works for anyone, but the style can change. For guys, a money lei and a gift box are popular, since they suit a party and a photo. For girls, a framed set or a custom-message pack is a nice keepsake. For anyone, a card with a handwritten message is worth more than the gift.

A money lei is a modern gift inspired by the lei tradition. If you want to know more about how the lei originated and how to treat one respectfully, see our guide to money leis.

University graduation gifts and school graduations

University graduations are often followed by a family lunch or a party, so a gift that is easy to carry works best: a lei for the photos, a box for the party. School graduations, such as Year 12 formals and ceremonies, call for a gift that suits a young person: a fun note pack with a message, or a gift set to open at the celebration.

For a graduate heading overseas or moving cities, a lightweight gift is useful. A framed set is bulky, but a lei and a small gift box pack flat.

Personalised graduation gifts

A custom-message note pack at $34.95 carries a message of your choice printed on 10 novelty notes. It is a gift only and not a reproduction of any person's likeness on genuine currency. Messages that work: "Congratulations Class of 2026", "Official graduate: wages not included", or a private joke the graduate will recognise.

Giving graduation gifts with money

Many families give cash at graduation, and a novelty gift can sit alongside it.

Keep the two clearly separate: the novelty notes are props, the cash is the gift. A card that says "the real gift is inside" gets a laugh and avoids any confusion. Never use the prop notes as payment, and make sure younger recipients know they are not currency. The Reserve Bank's rule for reproducing banknotes says a physical reproduction must be smaller than three-quarters, or larger than one and a half times, the length and width of the genuine note, and printed on one side only. You can read the full wording on the RBA's page on reproducing banknotes, and the offences sit in the Crimes (Currency) Act 1981. Our notes are reduced-scale, marked NOT LEGAL TENDER on every note, and carry no replicated security features.

Budget guide

Under $20. A single money lei at $13.95.

$30 to $60. A lei 3-pack at $30.95, a custom-message pack at $34.95 or the Graduation Money Gift Set at $59.

Over $60. A framed set at $93.95.

Our minimum order is $350 in goods, which applies to every order, so a single gift item does not reach it on its own. If you are buying for a group of graduates, or for a whole class, combine items: six Graduation Money Gift Sets come to $354.

A gift for graduation, by stage

A gift for graduation depends on the stage. Primary and high school graduations are usually modest, and a lei or a small card is a sweet extra. Year 12 graduations and formals are bigger events, and a gift set with a lei suits the celebration. Trade graduations and apprenticeships, often a proud family moment, suit a gift that nods to the hard work, such as a framed set for the new tradie's first desk or toolbox. University graduations are the largest, and a combined gift of cash in a card and a novelty extra is a popular choice.

Whatever the stage, think about the future as well as the party. A gift that will sit on a shelf and remind the graduate of the day has more lasting value than one that is used once.

A gift for the graduate: practical add-ons

A gift for the graduate can include practical extras. A card with a handwritten message, a small keepsake box to hold the lei and the notes, or a framed photo from the ceremony all add meaning. If the graduate is moving away, a lightweight gift is easier to transport.

If you are giving cash, choose a clean envelope and add a line about what you hope the money will help with: a first flat, a trip, a course. A novelty money gift can sit beside it as a light-hearted extra.

Timing graduation gifts

Graduation gifts are usually given at the ceremony, at the celebration afterwards, or by post. Plan around the date. Notes are printed to order, and tracked delivery usually takes three to five business days, so order well before the event. If the ceremony is far away, send the gift to a family member who will be present, or ship it direct and tell the graduate to expect it.

For a graduation party with several guests, a lei is a good photo prop. Hand it out at the start so that the photos taken throughout the evening include it.

Writing a graduation card

A graduation card does not need to be long. Start with the achievement: "Congratulations, you did it". Add one line about what you admire: your persistence, your humour, your creativity. Finish with a wish for the future. If the gift is a money-themed novelty, add a joke: "Your first salary, in advance".

Gifts for the graduate who is moving on

Many graduates move cities, start a new job or travel after the ceremony, and a gift that suits that stage is a thoughtful choice. A custom-message pack is light and easy to carry. A lei is a keepsake that fits in a bag. A gift set can be a farewell present from the family. If the graduate is starting a new job, a small desk piece such as a framed set is a good first office decoration.

If you are giving a gift to a friend who is moving away, add a handwritten card with a few memories. It will be the first thing they unpack and the last thing they throw away.

Graduation gifts for a whole class or cohort

Teachers, parents and organisers sometimes buy for a whole class or cohort. A lei for each student, or a gift for each member of a small cohort, is a fun way to mark the day. Our minimum order is $350 in goods, so a class of twenty is easy to cover: twenty Money Lei (Single) at $13.95 each come to $279, and adding a few other items clears the minimum. Plan the order well ahead, since notes are printed to order, and agree the budget with the school or the parent group first.

Graduation gift etiquette

Graduation etiquette is relaxed, but a few habits help. Give the gift at a moment that suits the graduate, not in the middle of the ceremony. If you are one of many guests, keep the gift modest, because the graduate may receive several. If you are giving cash, put it in a card with a handwritten line. And if you are giving a novelty extra, mention that it is a joke, so that the whole family can enjoy it.

Gift ideas to avoid

Avoid gifts that need a lot of explanation, that depend on a joke the graduate may not get, or that could seem to make light of the achievement. A novelty should add to the celebration, not overshadow it. And avoid leaving the gift until long after the event: it is best to give it close to the day, while the excitement is fresh.

What to check before you order

Timing. Notes are printed to order, so order well before the ceremony. We dispatch within one business day of confirmed payment, and delivery by tracked Australia Post usually takes three to five business days, free on every order.

Returns. If an order arrives damaged, misprinted or incorrect, contact us within 14 days of delivery for a replacement or refund, and returns by mail are free. Notes are printed to order, so change-of-mind refunds are not offered once an order has shipped.

Payment. We accept PayID/Osko, bank transfer via Osko, and crypto with 10% off the goods subtotal. Payment details are sent after your order request is confirmed.

For more gift ideas, see our guides to 21st birthday gifts, funny gifts and wedding gifts, or browse the gift sets. Prop notes are for film, theatre, education and novelty use only. They are reduced-scale, marked NOT LEGAL TENDER, and cannot be spent.