Australian charity DV Safe Phone is expanding its mobile phone collection points in a new partnership with national flexible space provider, WOTSO.
With 19 WOTSO sites nationally, including three in the ACT, the partnership is aiming to significantly increase the collection of used or unwanted working mobile phones to be repurposed and given to victims of domestic violence.
Each site will have a collection point that can safely store phones and cables, while also sharing information about the work of DV Safe Phone. WOTSO Joint Managing Director, Jessie Glew, said she believes the awareness will be far-reaching.
“WOTSO is home to hundreds of Australian businesses, each of those businesses will have old phones at some stage of their business lifecycle. We hope by being a collection point for DV Safe Phones, we lift the awareness around domestic violence whilst also helping victims get a vital piece of infrastructure,” Ms Glew said.
DV Safe Phone and WOTSO have a shared commitment to offer innovative solutions to community challenges, and a desire to help victims of domestic violence and abuse access emergency and crisis support.
DV Safe Phone Founder and CEO Ashton Wood said DV Safe Phone strikes a chord with people as it offers a practical and easy way to assist some of the most vulnerable in our community.
“I remember being shocked and overwhelmed to learn that there are over two million known victims of domestic violence in Australia. Phones are often the first thing smashed, taken, or monitored by a perpetrator, leaving victims with no way to signal for support and help,” Mr Wood said.
“Behind every statistic is a life at risk and DV Safe Phone’s vision is to get a safe phone into the hands of every victim in need. This is a goliath challenge that can only be achieved through strong community partnerships with like-minded organisations, like WOTSO.”
The charity has to date facilitated the delivery of over 1,805 safe phones to enable victims to access help when it is needed most. This translates directly to 1,805 lives supported with a lifeline to seek emergency and crisis support.
“All phones and funds raised by our partners help ensure we can direct our limited resources where they are needed most. This means getting more safe phones into the hands of victims in need,” Mr Wood said.
“We are looking forward to working closely with WOTSO to continue to create positive community impact at a national scale.’’
As well as giving unwanted phones, people can also donate funds to help cover the cost of phone processing, repairs, and phone credit.
Find a WOTSO location in the ACT here.
Find out more about DV Safe Phone here.
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