Throughout the month of December, MobileMuster is calling on Australians to donate their working but unused mobile phones to one of two social enterprises that work with victims of domestic violence and abuse.
DV Safe Phone and The Reconnect Project provide invaluable and practical support by supplying refurbished mobile phones, at no cost, to people in need. This is a phone that their partner does not know about, which allows the user to make private and secure phone calls to friends, loved ones and support services.
“For you and I, having access to a working mobile phone at Christmas means connection to family, friends, loved ones … and selfies. For a victim of domestic violence, having access to a phone could be the difference between living with, or breaking free from, a life sentence of abuse in the year ahead,” DV Safe Phone CEO, Ashton Wood, said.
“With a simple repair, secure erasure of data and an overall clean, these devices are ready for (re)connecting people to family, friends and essential services, and help close the digital divide in Australia,” Annette Mayne, founder of The Reconnect Project, added.
MobileMuster partners with charities throughout the year to raise funds, and in this case, older working mobiles, to help them continue their important work.
“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. This is why we’re running a donation drive for DV Safe Phone and The Reconnect Project in December 2022,” said Spyro Kalos, Head of MobileMuster.
“As technology advances, we are seeing the expansion of the digital divide, where the gap between those who have access to digital technology and those who do not is widening. In fact, the Australian Digital Inclusion Index notes that one in four people in Australia are digitally excluded1,” he went on to say.
With an estimated 22 million older but still working mobile phones currently in storage across the country, MobileMuster is urging Australians to donate their functioning stored devices to someone in need.
How to donate
Donating a phone is simple. Once you’ve decided which organisation you would like to donate to, check out our Do Good page here for further information, including a step-by-step guide to download a mailing label and drop off your phone for free at your local Australia Post office or street post box.