Community
3 October, 2025
Donate a phone and make a difference this October
A safe phone can be the difference between ongoing silence and a chance to seek protection.
Donated mobile phones can provide a literal lifeline for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
With October marking Sexual Violence Awareness Month, national charity DV Safe Phone is urging Australians to hand in their unused phones.
DV Safe Phone founder and CEO Ashton Wood said sexual violence was grossly underreported, with just 13 per cent of assaults ever reported to police.
“Many survivors remain silent not by choice, but because their phones are taken, broken, or monitored by perpetrators, leaving them without a safe way to call for help,” Mr Wood said.
“A safe phone can be the difference between ongoing silence and a chance to seek protection, respite from harassment, support, and recovery.”
He said DV Safe Phone repurposed donated devices into “Safe Phones”, which were untraceable.
Mr Wood said phones were equipped with a charger, SIM (where available) and credit, and were distributed free of charge through frontline agencies, police, hospitals and crisis services.
“For a survivor, a phone isn’t just a device – it’s a lifeline. It’s the difference between silence and survival.”
He said in Queensland, children under 15 made up more than a third of reported sexual assault victims, and youth were 58 per cent more likely to face tech-facilitated abuse such as harassment, image-based exploitation, or stalking.
“In 2024, sexual assault reports rose by 11 per cent, the highest level in 32 years, with Queensland recording nearly 10,000 sexual assaults and leading the nation in victims of crime.”
Mr Wood said Australians could donate used smartphones at one of nearly 1200 DV Safe Phone collection points, including 29 Queensland Country Bank branches, or by mail.
He said a map of drop box locations was available on the DV Safe Phone website.
“If you don’t have a phone to send or would like to do more, help with a tax-deductible donation to fund the preparation of Safe Phones – just $75 per device covers the secure wiping, repairs, kits and postage.”
Samantha Schulte, founder and CEO of The Survivor Service, said through DV Safe Phone, frontline services like hers were further empowered to respond to the time-critical needs of victim-survivors by providing a vital resource for safety and connection.
"At The Survivor Service, we see first-hand the difference a DV Safe Phone makes," she said.
"Receiving a DV Safe Phone restores hope, offers relief, and gives victim-survivors the ability to stay connected and make safe choices.
"For victim-survivors of sexual, domestic, and family violence, 5000 phones this month means 5000 more chances for a victim-survivor to receive a vital link to safety and connection as they begin to build a life free from violence."
Queensland Country Bank chief executive officer Aaron Newman said the bank was honoured to support DV Safe Phone.
“As a community-focused bank, we’re committed to supporting initiatives that make a real difference in people’s lives," he said.
"By hosting DV Safe Phone donation boxes in our 29 branches, we’re giving our members and staff a simple but powerful way to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Every phone donated is a step towards safety and we’re keen to support this in any way that we can."
There are a number of ways to drop off phones in just about every North West community, with the Department of Transport and Main Roads also accepting the donated phones.
Check out the website here: https://dvsafephone.org/donate-phones