While many of us look forward to spending time with loved ones this festive season, there are approximately two million Australians currently living in a domestic violence situation where Christmas often means increased time with an abusive partner and greater difficulty in hiding the abuse from loved ones.
For these Australians, having access to a second mobile phone can be the difference between life and death, which is why DV Safe Phone was established in 2019 to collect old working mobile phones and getting them into the hands of someone who could use a phone to escape a domestic violence situation.
This Christmas, DV Safe Phone has joined forces with MobileMuster to make it even easier for people to donate their old working phones through the MobileMuster DO GOOD campaign.
Chief executive officer and founder of DV Safe Phone, Ashton Wood said he was thrilled that MobileMuster has joined so many other national companies to support the DV Safe Phone vision of getting a safe phone into the hands of every Australian domestic violence victim.
“The partnership between DV Safe Phone and MobileMuster is a match made in heaven with the DO GOOD campaign offering an opportunity to post old working mobile phones to DV Safe Phone for free for the month of December by downloading a pre-addressed, pre-paid Australia Post label,” Mr Wood said.
“There are up to 1000 packs with 15kg capacity available to send to us for free and so we encourage people to collect from friends and family to make the most of this opportunity.
“It is currently estimated that there are 25.9 million working mobile phones in storage around Australia, of which only one fifth are not in a useable condition. That means there are around 21 million phones that could potentially be realising a much greater, life-saving purpose through the DV Safe Phone program.
“We know Christmas can be a time filled with fear and uncertainty for those most vulnerable in our community. It is a time of increased and often escalated episodes of domestic and family violence, many of which are witnessed by children and loved ones in the home.
“DV Safe Phone recognises that a working emergency phone can be a life line to so many and is committed to making sure no call for help goes unheard.”
As Australia’s leading mobile telecommunications industry’s product stewardship scheme, MobileMuster has played a significant role in collecting and recycling end-of-life mobile phones and accessories for over 24 years.
Head of MobileMuster, Spyro Kalos explains that the organisation regularly gives back to social causes.
“We partner with charities throughout the year to raise funds for their initiatives. Christmas can be a time of deep uncertainty and fear for vulnerable people in the community and having access to a working mobile phone can often make a significant difference to them, even saving their lives,” Mr Kalos said.
“We are so excited and grateful to be part of this initiative in December as it empowers the Australian community to consider adding a life-saving step into their reuse and recycling practices.”
The demand for DV Safe Phone’s service has increased beyond initial predictions and the need is increasing weekly, as pre-existing domestic violence incidents are now amplified by the flow-on impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns and relentless natural disasters in many Australian locations.
“In just two short years DV Safe Phone has gifted over 3600 safe phones to victims in need through registered domestic violence agencies across Australia, with 904 of these delivered just in the past five months,” Mr Wood said.
“Last Christmas we sent out 556 safe phones to victims via 33 frontline agencies across Australia. We now have 167 agencies on the books, many in regional and remote locations experiencing great hardship. All are in need of phones heading into the Christmas and New Year period.
“A big national push for phones through the ‘DO GOOD’ campaign will be amazing to meet demand into the start of 2023.
“Cash donations are also being called for to assist in the testing, repurposing and delivery of safe phones into the hands of those in need.”
DV Safe Phone’s Christmas Appeal aims to collect 1000 phones and raise $125,250 to ensure the 167 agencies on our waiting list have free DV Safe Phones on hand to gift to victim-survivors reaching out for crisis care and support as well as for those who will need our support into the New Year.
To find out more about DV Safe Phone and pledge your support to their Christmas Appeal visit dvsafephone.org/donate
To find out more about MobileMuster’s DO GOOD campaign and to donate a phone to DV Safe Phone, visit mobilemuster.com.au Terms and conditions apply.
