About
Our story
Our founders Russel and Adrian, never planned on starting a mobile phone company, they just wanted to help a few people experiencing homelessness get connected to an affordable mobile plan.
When they couldn’t get any of the existing mobile phone companies to help, they set up Better Life Mobile.
10 years later, their goal hasn’t changed. To make using a mobile phone fairer and more affordable for all members of society.
Connection and fairness
It’s our mission to keep all Australians connected and included with our affordable mobile phone plans.
Better Life Mobile is a social enterprise certified by Social Traders – Australia’s leading social enterprise certification organisation.
As Australia’s Fair Phone Company, our commitment is to offer all Australians an affordable mobile phone plan with first-rate coverage that never goes over the agreed rate. Too often, customers are confused by large and unexpected bills, and they end up paying for things they don’t need.
This can often result in disconnection from their mobile phone and being cut off from welfare and social support.
An ethical business
As a social impact business, our goal is to act ethically, fairly and in the best interest of our customers.
We are proud to be the first and only telco to be accepted as a member of Good Shepherd’s Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) program working to reduce the barriers to digital and financial inclusion through the provision of fair, affordable and accessible mobile phone services.
Awards
In 2019 we were Social Change Maker State Finalists in the Telstra Business Awards and ACCAN (the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network) awarded us its People’s Champion Award for demonstrating a strong social conscience through the creation of a product or service that is designed for those on limited incomes.
In further recognition of our social impact business model, we were also winners of Finder’s Best Telco Innovation for 2020.
In September 2020 we achieved International acclaim, winning the 2020 MVNO’s World Congress Dragon’s Den competition for their focus on supporting homeless and disadvantaged Australians access secure and affordable mobile phone services using an alternative business model and disrupting the status quo and being a symbol of inclusion in a modern world.
Partnerships
Better Life Mobile works directly with state and federal administrators, financial counsellors and welfare organisations to streamline the administration of accounts for those who don’t manage their own finances. Our Community Engagement program also works with welfare organisations to put phones into the hands of those who really struggle keeping one connected.
We are a Centrepay approved business and our customer care staff can work with community organisations and your staff to keep those they are working with connected.
Social impact
Those on low-income benefits in Australia range from the homeless and long-term unemployed to single parents, disabled people and carers. This equates to more than two million people and it is these people who are most in need of a mobile phone connection. Our service seeks to address this, alleviating some of the social pressure and isolation that these Australians may experience.
Social projects
We seek to give back to community through a range of social projects, distributing mobile phones with free credit to those most in need. Our annual “Santa Calls” Campaign provides free mobile phones and calls to community organisations and welfare agencies across Australia. Our donated handsets and phone plans are used to enable thousands of hours of conversation and messaging, bringing joy and connection to hundreds of Australians experiencing loneliness and isolation.
