TasPorts has donated 20 refurbished iPhones to a Hobart crisis service, giving women and children leaving family violence access to phones that can’t be tracked by an abuser.
The phones went to Jireh House, a Tasmanian service that provides safe housing and support to women and children in crisis.
The devices had been used by TasPorts staff but were no longer needed.
The company’s IT team securely wiped and reset each one before handing them over, stripping out all TasPorts data.
The security element is central to the donation. A shared or previously monitored phone can be used to track someone and the refurbished devices give women a clean device with no such risk.
Jireh House practice coordinator Renae said a safe phone can be critical for someone leaving a violent relationship.
“Having a secure, clean phone is essential for a safe separation,” she said.
“Technology can be used as a form of control and abuse, including tracking through mobile devices.”
“These refurbished phones will help ensure women and children can stay safe, maintain their privacy and access the support they need.”
TasPorts chief executive Allan Gray said the phones were no longer useful to the company but could still make a difference.
“These devices are no longer needed in our operations, but they can make a real difference for people who need them,” Gray said.
“We wanted them to go somewhere they’d genuinely help and Jireh House is a great example of that.”
Gray said the donation was part of TasPorts’ wider support for community organisations across Tasmania.
Jireh House has supported Tasmanians since the 1980s, when a small group of volunteers began sheltering women and children escaping family violence.
Today it also helps people experiencing homelessness and crisis.
Anyone impacted by family violence can contact the Safe at Home Family Violence Response and Referral Line on 1800 633 937, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
