A teenage victim has shared her story after being given a lifeline from Sunshine Coast charity DV Safe Phone.
After discovering that her perpetrator was tracking all her devices and the vehicles she travelled in, she was left isolated and vulnerable.
“Receiving a safe phone allowed her to stay connected with family and support networks without fear of being monitored,” Sunshine Coast charity DV Safe Phone founder and CEO Ashton Wood says.
“Stories like hers are a powerful reminder that a safe phone is more than just a device: it’s a lifeline.”
By the time most girls celebrate their 16th birthday, two in five globally have already experienced violence.
This year, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (November 25-December 10), DV Safe Phone is urging Australian businesses and community groups to join its nationwide 16 Day Challenge.
The statistics are confronting: more than a quarter of all Australian girls have been sexually solicited online before adulthood, while 80 per cent globally experience social media harassment between ages 14 and 16.
The federal government’s new Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) trial, starting on December 10, will raise the minimum age for access from 13 to 16, acknowledging the harms young teens face online.
Since launching in 2020, DV Safe Phone has distributed more than 16,000 refurbished safe phones to victims escaping domestic violence.
It aims to reach 18,000 by year’s end.
Corporate partnerships manager Lizzie Mettam says the 16 Day Challenge offers companies a way to make a measurable impact by donating phones, funds or volunteer hours.
“Every phone or dollar donated helps ensure a victim has access to a safe, private device – one that could ultimately save their life,” she says.
Mr Wood adds: “A safer future for our girls isn’t just a hope.
“It’s a responsibility.”
To get involved, visit dvsafephone.org/16days.
