Your Old Phone Could Save A Life

In today’s age, your mobile phone is your life. It contacts beloved photos of friends and family, important passwords, and your internet banking. It connects you to loved ones, allows ease of buying and selling, and keeps you safe in times of emergency.

However, for many people, a phone is a means of control and cohesion.

Formed in 2020, DV Safe Phone is an organisation that is actively working to equip victims of domestic and family violence with a safe phone, to help them connect to services that can support their needs and welcome a better life ahead.

“It is an unfortunate reality that some people live in unsafe situations, and as we get closer to Christmas, we have been handing out even more phones to DV and Law Enforcement agencies across Australia,” explained Nikki Firmin, Head of Community and Corporate Partnerships with DV Safe Phone.

“Just last week, we celebrated handing out our 7,000th phone to people in need, an outstanding result for our young charity.”

The Australia-wide organisation, DV Safe Phone has partnered with over 290 local and community organisations, that directly engage with individuals of domestic and family violence, to hand out the necessary devices.

“Every second-hand phone is matched with a brand-new charger cord, a wall plug, a car plug – because we’ve found that many people in this situation are living out of their cars – a sim card, and a starter card. We want every victim-survivor to have a connection to loved ones, no matter what.” Ms Firmin explained.

How does it work?

DV Safe Phone refurbishes donated phones to assist victims of domestic and family violence.

In the Whitsundays, you can drop your old phone at DV Phone Boxes in the Cannonvale Library, Amanda Camm MPs office, Whitsunday Regional Council offices in Proserpine, Airlie Beach Tourism and the Department of Transport Offices in Proserpine and Bowen.

Your phone will be collected from local community organisations and sent to DV Safe Phone’s head office, and your phone will be reconfigured to the necessary specifications and repaired (if needed).

It will then be sent out to community organisations and given to individuals in need.

“The phone can be any brand, and we will fix broken screens, or replace batteries. If we can’t use the phone for parts, we will send the phone to Mobile Muster, Australia’s leading recycler, to properly recycle the device,” Ms Firmin explained.

“We’re also finding older phones are particularly helpful for remote communities, when connectivity isn’t as reliable on newer phones. So, it doesn’t matter the age, brand, or condition of the phone.

“We’re proud of the work we’re doing, of the impact we’re having.

“There are thousands of phones sitting in people’s bottom drawers, and they could save a life.”

DV Safe Phones is currently hosting its Christmas appeal and has seen an increase in the demand for safe phones for people experiencing family and domestic violence.

To learn more or donate, visit www.dvsafephone.org.au

To find DV Safe Phone drop box locations, visit https://dvsafephone.org/donate-phones

For any additional information, please contact Nikki at nikki@dvsafephone.org

Where To Drop Off Your Old Phone:

Whitsunday Regional Council Office Proserpine

Department of Transport Proserpine

Department of Transport Bowen

Cannonvale Library

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm’s Office

Airlie Beach Tourism

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Narelle Rodriguez and the team at Airlie Beach Tourism are happy to drop the phones in the DV Safe Phone Box. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge