Wollondilly Councillor Suzie Brandstater is urging anyone who has a working phone they no longer use to donate it to Council’s DV Safe phone program.
“After all it’s lying at home gathering dust. All it takes is the tiny effort of dropping it in. And who knows, your donation may well save a life,” she said.
In the lead up to Domestic Violence Prevention Month, Wollondilly Shire Council supported Cr Brandstater’s proposal to take part in the DV Safe Phone program and installed a recycled phone bin at its Customer Service Centre.
The DV Safe Phone program aims to repurpose old phones and give them to people in domestic violence situations to support their access to help when it is most needed.
There are drop-off locations right across Australia, and the Council Administration Building in Menangle Street Picton has now been added to the list.
“It is crucial that every victim of domestic violence has access to a safe phone to call for help when they are in need,” Mayor of Wollondilly Matt Gould said.
“There are over two million known victims of domestic violence in Australia and often people don’t know the best way to help, so this is a practical way to provide assistance to those who most need it.”
Thanking Cr Brandstater for bringing the proposal to Council, Mayor Gould said, “Wollondilly Council is delighted to support this great initiative.”
Information on how to prepare pre-used phones for donation is available on the DV Safe Phone website
Funds can also be donated to help support the program including paying for replacement parts, SIM cards, phone credit and engaging specialist technicians at https://dvsafephone.org/
