Businesses urged to donate old phones to aid DV survivors

MobileMuster and DV Safe Phone have called on Australian businesses to donate unused mobile phones to support domestic violence victim-survivors during Domestic Violence Prevention Month.

Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that one in five Australian women have experienced stalking, with 78% encountering unwanted digital contact through phones, emails, and social media channels.

Technology-facilitated abuse has seen a marked increase, with rates in Victoria rising by more than 650% over the past five years. According to the organisations, half of all Australians are predicted to experience such abuse in their lifetimes, indicating an expanding need for safe and secure communications for those impacted by domestic violence.

With over three million domestic violence victim-survivors estimated across Australia, MobileMuster and DV Safe Phone say that now is a critical time to act. They are asking businesses to donate unused mobile phones, which can be refurbished to provide secure communication devices for those affected, or recycled in cases where they cannot be repurposed.

Ashton Wood, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DV Safe Phone, said, "Tech-facilitated abuse can be devastating. Studies show that the abuser is usually known to the person, so a safe phone is more than just a communication device; it's a gateway to freedom for many. It allows victim-survivors to seek help without fear of surveillance or control by their abuser."

He added, "This DV prevention month is a perfect opportunity to clear out old phones and devices and donate it to DV Safe Phone to enable more victim-survivors to start again."

Louise Hyland, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association and MobileMuster, stressed the value of collaborative engagement. "Corporate sponsorship through phone donations is one of the easiest and most impactful things businesses can do this DV Prevention Month. Businesses can even send in non-working devices, as any broken devices that DV Safe Phone can't rehome will be recycled responsibly with MobileMuster," she said.

MobileMuster has committed a donation of AUD $30,000 to support DV Safe Phone in expanding its service, with the funding set to provide direct assistance to 133 victim-survivors.

Guidance is available from MobileMuster on how to erase data securely from old mobile phones, covering both Android and iPhone (iOS) operating systems, to ensure personal information is protected before devices are donated.

DV Safe Phone operates by collecting, repurposing, and gifting mobile phones through a network of registered domestic violence and law enforcement agencies, as well as safe houses and hospitals that assist vulnerable individuals. These donated devices form a part of personal 'safe' or 'escape' plans, allowing victim-survivors a means of communication when it is needed most.

Now in its fifth year, DV Safe Phone has distributed 12,000 mobile phones via a network of more than 420 agencies across Australia.