Safe Connections 2.0
About SafeConnections
The SafeConnections Project is a partnership between Telstra and WESNET Safety Net Australia. Telstra donates smartphones with pre-paid credit and WESNET distributes the phones through participating frontline agencies to survivors of domestic and family violence, sexual assault, and other forms of violence against women.
In addition, WESNET has been funded by the Federal Government to provide training and resources to front-line workers so they can support women experiencing technology facilitated abuse. The training covers all the ways that smart phones can be misused by perpetrators, how to help women be safer on technology, document abuse that later may help them hold their abusers accountable, and how workers can safely provide the phones to women impacted by gender-based violence.
To whom will the smartphones be available?
The phones are available to women through a network of frontline agencies. The brand new smartphones are available to any woman experiencing domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault or harassment who needs access to a safer phone.
Having access to a brand new smartphone can help women stay connected, document abuse that could assist with holding abusers accountable, and contact support services, especially if their current phone is compromised.
Training & education
In addition to providing phones, WESNET offers training for front line workers on how to safely provide the phones to survivors and how to assist survivors to navigate forms of technology-facilitated abuse. The training is funded by the Commonwealth Government and is free of charge to participating agencies.
These training consist of in-person trainings as well as online webinars. The training is designed to be current, comprehensive, and complements the Level 1 Training (eSafety Women) being delivered by WESNET and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
Resources
WESNET also has available a wide range of handouts on technology-facilitated abuse at www.techsafety.org.au/resources. These handouts cover a wide range of topics, from maximising smartphone location privacy to increasing your smart phones security and privacy.
Frontline worker phone support
Workers can access expert advice on technology-facilitated abuse when they have complex cases. Call 1800 WESNET (1800 937 638), Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, AEST.
Who is eligible to be a Safe Connections Local Agency?
Applications to join Safe Connections are now closed. WESNET may invite agencies located in target areas to join in the future.
The Safe Connections network of frontline agencies is Australia-wide and includes
specialist VAW services as well as other frontline agencies that come into regular contact with women that may be experiencing violence, and provide a case-management style of service delivery.