Cumberland Council donates mobile phones to domestic violence charity DV Safe Phone

A Sydney council will donate a bunch of decommissioned mobile phones to help domestic violence victims avoid their perpetrators amid a growing crisis in shelters, which have become “bottlenecks”.

Cumberland Council will donate 45 decommissioned mobile phones to help domestic violence victims in an effort for them to avoid perpetrators tracking them when they flee dangerous situations.

On average, the council has decommissioned 78 mobile phones each year for the past three years and, rather than disposing them, will donate the devices to charity DV Safe Phone which will repurpose them for victims.

Cumberland Deputy Mayor Michael Zaiter said access to a safe phone could be the difference between life and death.

“Perpetrators often use phones to control and monitor the victims, leaving them isolated and without a secure way to keep in contact with friends and family, or seek help,’’ he said.

“These safe phones are a vital link to emergency service support networks and loved ones.’’

Donated mobile phones can help victims escape offenders.

The phones will be donated over the next six months, with residents and businesses also encouraged to donate.

Parramatta Women’s Shelter manager Tania Smith said technology-facilitated abuse was an increasing concern for victim survivors and case workers.

Parramatta Women's Shelter manager Tania Smith said it was helpful if phones were not too old and came with some credit or a prepaid SIM. Picture: Monique Harmer

“When you are isolated in an abusive relationship, a phone can be your only connection to the outside world,’’ she said.

“They are also a big part of children and young people’s lives too and perpetrators know this. Having donated safe phones available for our clients is an important part of safety planning.’’

The council’s phone drive comes amid figures showing women’s shelters were forced to turn away more victims last year because of a lack of accommodation.

Women’s Community Shelters, which includes Parramatta Women’s Shelter, supported 21 per cent more women and children last year but staff were forced to turn away one in two clients because of the accommodation shortage.

Parramatta Women's Shelter is among those facilities that have to turn away clients.

In 2024, the number of unassisted people across the state grew by 19 per cent compared with 12 months prior, while “demand for its services continues to grow at a faster rate than supply”.

Women’s Community Shelters chief executive Annabelle Daniel said NSW needed another 170,000 safe “bed nights” annually for the women and children who were turned away from crisis accommodation shelters.

“While Australians are facing a housing availability crisis, a housing affordability crisis and a construction crisis, women who are affected by domestic and family violence are at the nexus of all three,’’ she said.

At Parramatta Women’s Shelter, Ms Smith said it was turning away at least one or two families every day.

“I’ve worked in the sector for 26 years and have never seen it this bad,’’ she said.

“It is extremely challenging to have to prioritise who we can help, and who we can’t.

More women – even employed domestic violence victims – are seeking help from shelters because of the housing and cost-of-living crisis. Picture: istock

Ms Smith cited the increase on rising awareness about help that was available and the housing crisis, not just for women fleeing violence, but for clients who were trying to move on and into longer term housing.

“Shelters are becoming bottlenecks as there are very few exit pathways, and therefore, we are seeing longer stays in shelter,’’ she said.

“Women are competing with those in the private rental market who have higher incomes, and they can experience discrimination by agents and landlords.’’

Employed women are also seeking support in shelters. Last year, 70 per cent of crisis shelter clients used WCS facilities, with the cost-of-living crisis driving a 13 per cent increase in the number of women who are employed seeking help.

Originally published as Cumberland Council donates mobile phones to domestic violence charity DV Safe Phone