By offering free local, national and mobile calls from Telstra payphones, we hope more Australians can get in touch with their loved ones this Christmas writes Stuart Bird, Executive Director Telstra Home and Business Products.
For my family, Christmas is one of the happiest times of year. It’s all about getting together to celebrate the year that’s been and get excited for what’s to come.
But unfortunately, for many Australians, Christmas can be a lonely and difficult time. While many of us are lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family or have access to technology that helps bring us together, there are others who find themselves separated from loved ones without a way to get in touch.
By offering free local, national and mobile calls from Telstra payphones, we hope more Australians can get in touch with their loved ones this Christmas writes Stuart Bird, Executive Director Telstra Home and Business Products.
For my family, Christmas is one of the happiest times of year. It’s all about getting together to celebrate the year that’s been and get excited for what’s to come.
But unfortunately, for many Australians, Christmas can be a lonely and difficult time. While many of us are lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family or have access to technology that helps bring us together, there are others who find themselves separated from loved ones without a way to get in touch.
To help more Australians connect with their loved ones, we’re offering free local, national and mobile calls from the Telstra-branded payphones from Christmas Eve until 28 December so everyone can call their friends and family for free.
I caught up with Cathy Humphrey, CEO Sacred Heart Mission, to understand the importance of connection at Christmas for the hundreds of homeless people they help every day.
What is Sacred Heart’s main focus at this time of year?
At Sacred Heart Mission, we believe in empowering people so they can build the capacity to participate more fully in community life. Our warm, welcoming dining hall is the heart of the Mission and where hundreds of people who are homeless come every day of the year to share a meal, including on Christmas Day. The Meals Program provides hearty, nutritious meals to people who are homeless, socially disadvantaged and isolated. It is a program that does far more than feed people. It also provides opportunities for people to reconnect to and develop a sense of community and belonging.
Why is connecting with others at Christmas time important?
While everyone has a different experience of being homeless, at its very core, being homeless is about absence: an absence of a home, a safe place to live, security, choices and control over one’s life. It is also often an absence of family and friends. If you have no one to lean on, no relationships, no support, this impacts on an individual’s sense of safety and connection with other people. Feeling connected is important so people do not feel isolated from society.
There are many reasons people might lose contact with friends and family. We encourage anyone who is apart from their loved ones this Christmas to give them a call.
What can Australians do to help people who are going through a hard time this Christmas?
Homelessness, poverty and hardship are on the increase in Australia. Christmas can be a difficult time for the more than 21,000 Victorians living on the streets. People’s tax deductible donations help keep our essential services operating and to continue to grow and innovate, offering greater choices and service access to some of the most disadvantaged members of our community.
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