MobileMuster encourages donating working phones to The Reconnect Project

25 May 2026 — Two in three Australian family, domestic and sexual violence practitioners say they see text messaging used to facilitate abuse; yet, almost one in five Australians remain digitally excluded, cut off from the very devices that could keep them safe. During Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, Australia’s largest mobile phone recycling program, MobileMuster, is calling on Australians to donate their unused, working phones to Sydney-based not-for-profit The Reconnect Project, whose work refurbishing old phones for those in need could give a victim-survivor a private lifeline to safety.

MobileMuster has donated $30,000 to The Reconnect Project to support their important work, enough to repurpose and distribute 300 phones for DV victim-survivors, First Nations Australians, people experiencing homelessness, refugees and asylum seekers. 

For DV victim-survivors facing constant surveillance and technology-facilitated abuse, a safe phone can mean the difference between isolation and access to emergency services, financial help and support networks. The Federal Budget has committed more than $4.4 billion to ending violence against women; yet, technology-facilitated abuse remains a critical blind spot in Australia’s response.

The Reconnect Project refurbishes donated phones, tablets and laptops and distributes them through more than 200 social service agencies, including women’s refuges, at-risk youth outreach services, refugee support programs and mental health recovery services. It also provides employment and training for neurodivergent young adults, creating pathways to social inclusion. Since 2022, the organisation has received more than 7,690 donated devices and distributed 2,794 phones to people in need. DV ranks among the top three reasons recipients need a device, accounting for 26% of all distributions. 

MobileMuster’s research shows approximately 23 million unused phones are sitting in Australian drawers, each one a potential lifeline, and is encouraging the public to donate their working phones to The Reconnect Project. Any devices they receive that cannot be repurposed will be responsibly recycled with MobileMuster. 

Annette Brodie, Founder and CEO of The Reconnect Project, said: “For a woman fleeing violence, a phone isn’t just a device, it’s a direct line to safety. Every donated phone we receive has the potential to change a life. We are proud to partner with MobileMuster to get more devices into the hands of people who desperately need them. If you have an unused phone at home, please donate it. Your old phone could give someone the tools to start a new chapter.”

Stef Allen, Operations Manager at Kingsway Care, an emergency accommodation provider for women and children escaping violence, said: “We provide phones through The Reconnect Project to many of our clients, as their existing phones are often compromised by tracking or monitoring. A safe phone is more than a device, it’s a vital lifeline that helps keep clients safe, connected, and free from ongoing control.”

Australia is the fifth-highest producer of e-waste in the world, with e-waste growing three times faster than any other waste type. In this financial year alone, MobileMuster has collected 109 tonnes of mobile phone components. This is equivalent to reducing global warming by 328 tonnes of CO2 emissions, conserving 461 tonnes of mineral resources, or planting nearly 5,000 trees.

Louise Hyland, CEO of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), which manages MobileMuster, said: “Australians have tens of millions of unused phones sitting in drawers. Donating old phones to organisations like The Reconnect Project is one of the most direct ways anyone can support people experiencing domestic violence. And for phones that can’t be refurbished, MobileMuster will responsibly recycle them. 90% of a phone’s embodied carbon emissions are created during manufacturing, so extending a device’s life, or recycling it responsibly, is also a win for the environment.”

Donate your old phone and help close the digital divide. Wipe your phone’s data, find your nearest drop-off point or mail it directly to The Reconnect Project at thereconnectproject.com.au. To learn more about responsible phone recycling, visit mobilemuster.com.au.