Vodahutch offers free emergency calls

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 08 March 2011 11:16

Your IT - Mobility

Troubled mobile carrier Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) will provide free calls to selected front line national child safety, emergency services and suicide prevention hotlines - including Kids Helpline, Lifeline and the SES - offering Vodafone and 3 customers free calls to selected 13 and 1800 helpline services1 from 17 March 2011.

Following a spate of consumer complaints about its network and services, culminating in an embarrassing mea culpa letter to customers from VHA CEO Nigel Dews last month, VHA has sought to rebuild its tarnished image through a promised network refurbishment and an overhaul of its operations.

The latest announcement of free emergency calls is part of the new VHA image building campaign.

According to VHA,  a selection criteria will be applied to the 13 / 1800 numbers that are given free calls from mobiles for both Vodafone and 3 customers. The 13 / 1800 numbers must provide national reaching crisis help and support services within the areas of child safety, mental health and suicide prevention, storm and flood emergency services or be partners of the Vodafone Foundation. In addition, the numbers must not be duplicated by existing freely available emergency services and must be owned by a registered not-for-profit organisation. 

'A large number of calls made to services like Kids Helpline and Lifeline are made from mobiles. We hope that by making these calls free, we will help customers in a time of need and remove the financial barrier,' said Tanya Bowes, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Vodafone Hutchison Australia.

Dr Maggie Jamieson, CEO of Lifeline said, 'Every year over a third of our calls - more than 114,000 - come from a mobile handset.  We are concerned that the costs associated with what is often a lengthy phone call, is acting as an inhibitor for people who are seeking crisis care.  That's why we are so pleased that Australians with Vodafone or 3 will be able to access Lifeline for free; this move will literally save lives.'

Tracy Adams, CEO of Kids Helpline said, 'With the recent crisis events across Australia, we began 2011 with a 50% increase attempts to reach our counselling service.  Free mobile phone access to young people who are reaching out for help and support is critically important.   We are delighted that Vodafone and 3 have taken the step to zero rate calls for their customers to our service.'

In addition to Kids Helpline, Lifeline and the SES, VHA will also waive call charges to its Vodafone Foundation partners' help lines including the Australian Red Cross, SANE, Barnardos, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Oxfam and Mission Australia.