DV Safe Phone

DV Safe Phone is a national Australian charity founded in 2020 by Ashton Wood to provide victim-survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV) with repurposed mobile phones—critical lifelines for those fleeing abuse. Many abusers confiscate or monitor phones to control their victims, leaving them isolated and unable to seek help. DV Safe Phone collects donated devices, tests and wipes them, and equips them with new chargers and SIM cards. These “safe phones” are then distributed through a trusted network of over 450 frontline agencies, including police, shelters, hospitals, and domestic violence services. To support this effort, DV Safe Phone has established over 1,100 public collection boxes across Australia, allowing individuals and organisations to easily donate old phones. The charity partners with businesses, councils, and recyclers like Mobile Muster to ensure phones that can’t be reused are responsibly recycled, reducing landfill waste and supporting environmental sustainability. Corporate partnerships, community drives, and volunteer engagement are central to the charity’s operations and growth. To date, DV Safe Phone has distributed over 13,000 safe phones, with demand continuing to rise as awareness spreads and technology-facilitated abuse increases. The charity continues to seek support—whether through phones, funding, or awareness—to ensure that every domestic violence victim who needs a phone can access one. Each phone represents a potential life saved, a connection restored, and a powerful step toward safety and independence.