As the energy transition gathers pace, it’s more critical than ever that the energy industry understands the system from a consumer’s perspective. Given the scale and complexity of the issues at hand, we need to grow the community of consumer advocates to ensure there is a diverse and representative group of advocates who understand the key energy issues and the processes to affect change.
To address this, University of Melbourne designed and delivered an interactive training course, The foundations of the energy system: a consumer advocacy toolkit to develop new and diverse consumer voices. The course provided new and existing consumer advocates with foundational knowledge on the ongoing transformation in the energy industry and markets. The course was delivered by Prof Pierluigi Mancarella with guest appearances from experienced consumer advocates who shared practical tips and real-world examples.
After completing the training, participants are better equipped to effectively engage and influence government, regulatory and industry policies with insights into the major decision-making processes. Over 150 attendees took part in the eight online sessions and three in-person workshops, providing positive feedback. The sessions equipped attendees with new skills and knowledge to undertake advocacy work in the energy sector.
