On the 27th June 2025 Bettina Cooper, Mob Strong Senior Financial Counselling and Strategy Lead, had the opportunity of attending the 2025 National Consumer Congress, participating on the panel Stress and stretching the dollar – impacts of financial hardship moderated by Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Together with fellow panelist Ciara Sterling, CEO Thriving Communities Australia, Bettina highlighted the additional poverty premium paid by First Nations people in areas like the telco and energy sector. When prepaid energy is the only option and there is no hardship available in some First Nations communities, or where Telco misselling goes unpunished or lightly punished it leaves systemic hardships in their lives.
