Sunshine Coast-based domestic violence charity DV Safe Phone has teamed up with Bonza, who also call the Sunny Coast home, to help get vital support to regional Australia
Bonza will work with DV Safe Phone to get donated mobiles to the regional communities they fly to from the Sunshine Coast. They’ll also support DV Safe Phone staff and volunteers in reaching those communities where they work with various frontline agencies such as Centacare, Salvation Army and the Police.
The partnership kicks off as Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in Queensland comes to a close, an annual initiative to raise community awareness of domestic and family violence and coercive control, and the support services available.
Safe phones play a critical role in helping victims to escape a situation as often their phones are tapped, taken away form them or controlled by the perpetrator.
“Helping DV Safe Phone to reach regional communities on the Bonza route map is a very small way that we can help them do incredibly important work. The Sunshine Coast community has embraced Bonza and we hope this is one of many ways we can say thank you for the work they do in the communities we seek to serve,” said Carly Povey, Chief Commercial Officer at Bonza.
Speaking on the demand for phones in regional Australia, Stacey Kendall, Program Manager at DV Safe Phone said, “This is a total game-changer for our charity. It is reported that people living in regional, rural and remote communities are 24 times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of family and domestic violence than people living in major cities, so getting phones into these regions is critical for their safety.
“Thank you Bonza for your amazing partnership, which will ensure we can get phones to those regions as a matter of priority, while raising much-needed awareness of domestic violence in the community.”
Locations Bonza will help DV Safe get phones to Albury, Avalon and Geelong, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Mackay, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Tamworth, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast.
To donate your old phone or funds today, go to dvsafephone.org
