Dr Mirella Atherton
Lecturer
School of Law and Justice
Career Summary
Biography
Mirella specialises in Banking and Finance Law while advocating for changes that benefit everyone in the community. Calling on experience as a volunteer for the Criminal Justice Support Network who assist intellectually disabled people at police stations and at courts, her current projects include:
Gaming and Gambling with credit and other forms of currency
The online gaming and gambling industry has been harnessing the power of immense data sets to drive effective, targeted marketing. Transactional data or the digital footprint which is collected through the interactions with websites provides detailed behavioural insights, allowing a granular digital profile to be constructed for each customer. Data is a powerful tool, when utilised by operators to optimise each step of the experience through the use of so-called ‘dark nudges’. These enable personalised, targeted online advertising, as well as inform website and product design in order to influence the user and ultimately maximise profits.
Privacy of data
There is strong evidence that discrimination occurs by artificial intelligence within lending platforms. Micro decisions that consumers make can be factors in financial records that weigh against them. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is involved in ongoing regulatory enforcement across Australia to reign in unconscionable conduct involving consumers. To effectively reduce discrimination and increase transparency it is clear that multiple organisations need to collaborate to develop effective consumer protection laws and complementary policies. Mirella's research conducts an innovative and much needed investigation into the legal and social factors involved in maintaining data privacy and reducing discrimination for the benefit of all consumers.
Buy Now Pay Later
The Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) industry is rapidly growing in popularity with NAB Now Pay Later being one of the latest to join. Rising costs of living means that BNPL offer consumers an easier way to make purchases. There is a concern that the use of this payment option could lead to disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers spending money they don’t have, incurring financial consequences for choices that they make and spiraling into a debt cycle. Protecting consumers from financial harm without restricting access to new financial technology is a delicate balance. BNPL schemes have avoided lending obligations that apply to other short term lending arrangements. Unknown to many consumers is the fact that providers will gain valuable insight into consumers’ purchase behaviours, which will allow the company to predict future consumption and spending behaviour.
Cryptocurrency and digital scams
While all demographics are vulnerable to scams, the ACCC noted that people aged 55 to 64 reported the highest total losses of investment losses, which included $32 million between 1 January and 1 May 2022. Furthermore, over 80% of losses reported by this age group was lost to investment scams, a value totaling $26 million. Therefore, it seems likely that older Australians tend to be the most vulnerable demographic group to fall victim to these scams. The newer the investor, the more vulnerable they are to scams. This fast-moving area of financial technology presents risks for other vulnerable consumers too. In contrast to traditional forms of currency, digital currencies now allow payments to be made directly to another person online, anonymously, anywhere in the world utilising encryption and bypassing the banking sector. These transactions effectively execute themselves when specified events occur and this raises the question of how these contracts could be adjudicated or varied in the case that a dispute arose.
Avatars help in solving legal problems
Virtual learning environments have been recognised as an area of particular importance to improve desirable learning behaviours, enhance student experiences and improve student retention. As many of the new generation of law students are technologically savy, launching avatars encourages them to be engaged in the learning environment. Avatars in the computer mediated educational space have the potential to offer value for educators and learners through customisation of the avatar to the individual parameters that are required. Several studies are reporting the positive impact virtual reality learning environments have on students’ engagement and performance compared to other non-immersive learning approaches. Avatar use in educational contexts is still in its early stage of development and first year law students at the University of Newcastle, School of Law and Justice will learn problem solving skills with the help of avatars for the first time in 2024.Within the School of Law and Justice Mirella Atherton is the Co-Convener of the Masters Programs with Eliezer Sanchez-Lasaballett.
Mirella is available to co-supervise PhD research projects.
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Laws, Macquarie University
Keywords
- Banking and financial sector
- Complaints
- Compulsory income management
- Consumer protection
- Cryptocurrency
- Data privacy
- Digital footprint
- Financial hardship
- Gambling with credit
- Responsible lending
- Vulnerability
Languages
- English (Fluent)
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
480101 | Banking, finance and securities law | 80 |
480406 | Law reform | 10 |
480501 | Access to justice | 10 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|
Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Law and Justice Australia |
Awards
Prize
Year | Award |
---|---|
2017 |
Best Research Paper ELFSC Research Committee |
2016 |
Excellence in Teaching and Learning English Language and Foundation Studies Centre, University of Newcastle |
Invitations
Committee Member
Year | Title / Rationale |
---|---|
2015 |
ELFSC Research Committee Committee has the responsibility of providing oversight on the ELFSC research strategy. |
2015 |
Human Research Ethics Committee The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) operates in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC). |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Highlighted Publications
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Zeller B, Atherton M, 'The Digital Revolution, Fundamental Rights and Justice', Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, 18-27 (2024) [C1] |
Chapter (2 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Atherton M, 'Analytical indicators for profiling and improving engagement and success of vulnerable participants', Emerging Trends in Learning Analytics, Brill, Australia 122-157 (2019) | ||
2018 | Atherton MA, 'Banking and Finance', Australasian Dispute Resolution, Thomson Reuters, Australia 101-742 (2018) |
Journal article (10 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2024 | Zeller B, Atherton M, 'The Digital Revolution, Fundamental Rights and Justice', Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, 18-27 (2024) [C1] | ||||||||||
2020 |
Sourdin T, Atherton M, 'Treating Vulnerable Consumers 'Fairly'When They Make a Complaint About Banking or Finance in Australia', Bond Law Review, 32 1-33 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2019 |
Sourdin T, Atherton M, 'Vulnerability and dispute resolution in the banking and finance sector', Social Business, 9 69-91 (2019) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2017 |
Atherton MA, Vazquez J, Shah M, Griffiths Z, Jackson B, Burgess C, 'Using learning analytics to assess student engagement and academic outcomes in open access enabling programmes', Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 32 119-136 (2017) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2017 |
Atherton MA, 'A comparison of student confidence levels in open access and undergraduate university courses', Issues in Educational Research, 27 19-30 (2017) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2015 |
Atherton MA, 'Measuring confidence levels of male and female students in open access enabling courses', Issues in Educational Research, 25 81-98 (2015) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2014 |
Atherton MA, Bailey A, 'Assessing disadvantaged student confidence in learning: A case of enabling pathway programs.', Journal of Institutional Research (South East Asia), 12 41-53 (2014) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2002 |
Sakoff J, Ackland S, Baldwin ML, Atherton MA, McCluskey A, 'Anticancer activity and protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibition of a new generation of cantharidin analogues', Investigational New Drugs, 20 1-11 (2002) [C1]
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2002 |
McCluskey A, Atherton MA, Walkom CC, Bowyer M, Sim A, Young D, Sakoff J, 'The first two cantharidin analogues displaying PP1 selectivity', Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 12 391-393 (2002) [C1]
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2000 |
McCluskey A, Atherton MA, Mudgee L, Sim A, Sakoff JA, Quinn R, 'Anhydride modified cantharidin analogues. Is ring opening important in the inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A?', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 35 957-964 (2000) [C1]
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Show 7 more journal articles |
Conference (5 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Atherton M, 'The Digital Revolution In Banking and Finance', Sydney (2023) | ||||
2023 | Atherton M, 'The Digital Revolution In Banking and Finance', Sydney (2023) | ||||
2022 | Atherton M, Sanchez-Lasaballett E, 'University of Newcastle Justice Innovation Symposium', Newcastle, Australia (2022) | ||||
2022 |
Sourdin T, Li B, Atherton M, Thomas H, 'Improving Customer Experience by Optimising Complaints Handling Practice at DPE', Melbourne, Australia (2022)
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Show 2 more conferences |
Media (5 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Atherton M, 'Online Gambling and Online Scams', (2023) | ||
2023 | Atherton M, 'SBS Television Insight Program', (2023) | ||
2023 | Atherton M, 'SBS Television Insight Program', (2023) | ||
Show 2 more medias |
Other (6 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Atherton M, 'Class Actions 6PR Radio Perth', (2022) | ||
2022 | Atherton M, 'Optus Data Breach Class Action', (2022) | ||
2022 | Atherton M, 'Eliminating cashless debit cards - The Wire Radio Station Queensland', . Queensland: The Wire Radio Station (2022) | ||
Show 3 more others |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 4 |
---|---|
Total funding | $92,741 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
Highlighted grants and funding
Analysis of Complaints Handling for the RSD Team $85,000
Funding body: NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Funding body | NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Tania Sourdin, Doctor Christine Armstrong, Doctor Mirella Atherton, Doctor Bin Li |
Scheme | Tender |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | G2101391 |
Type Of Funding | C2300 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Own Purpose |
Category | 2300 |
UON | Y |
20231 grants / $241
Digital currency, access to credit, gambling and financial scams: How do they impact on social inequality and lead to vulnerability in the community?$241
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Doctor Mirella Atherton |
Scheme | Pilot Funding Scheme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2300483 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20223 grants / $92,500
Analysis of Complaints Handling for the RSD Team $85,000
Funding body: NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Funding body | NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Tania Sourdin, Doctor Christine Armstrong, Doctor Mirella Atherton, Doctor Bin Li |
Scheme | Tender |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | G2101391 |
Type Of Funding | C2300 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Own Purpose |
Category | 2300 |
UON | Y |
New Start$5,000
Funding body: CHSF
Funding body | CHSF |
---|---|
Scheme | New Start |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
CHSF Research Output Grant$2,500
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | CHSF - Research Output Scheme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Research Projects
Gaming and Gambling with Credit in Australia 2022 -
Compulsory income management for welfare recipients 2021 -
Buy Now Pay Later 2022 -
Privacy of financial data 2022 -
Edit
Research Opportunities
PhD student
I am able to co-supervise any domestic student embarking on a PhD in Banking, Finance and or Securities
PHD
School of Law and Justice
30/9/2022 - 30/9/2025
Contact
Doctor Mirella Atherton
University of Newcastle
School of Law and Justice
mirella.atherton@newcastle.edu.au
News
News • 5 Oct 2022
A class action against Optus could easily be Australia's biggest: Here's what is involved
With the Optus data breach exposing almost 10 million current and former customers to identity theft, law firms are circling for what could end up being the biggest – and most valuable – class action case in Australian legal history.
News • 7 Sep 2022
Eliminating cashless debit cards is great, but be careful about what comes next
The Albanese government will keep its election commitment to abolish the cashless debit card. Cashless cards limited the financial autonomy of over 17,000 participants, a disproportionate number of whom are First Nations people.
Dr Mirella Atherton
Position
Lecturer
Law School
School of Law and Justice
College of Human and Social Futures
Contact Details
mirella.atherton@newcastle.edu.au | |
Mobile | 0416160921 |
Links |
Twitter |
Office
Room | Level 5, NU Space |
---|---|
Building | NU Space |
Location | Newcastle City , |