How Escabags help families escape from domestic violence

As part of our involvement in News Corp Australia’s 2025 National Bush Summit, Optus is highlighting initiatives that strengthen regional communities. Our partnership with Escabags reflects this commitment, helping ensure that those experiencing family and domestic violence in regional and remote areas have the tools and support they need to find safety and rebuild their lives.

For many Australians, particularly in regional and remote communities, escaping family and domestic violence can feel insurmountable. Limited public transport, long distances to crisis centres, and a lack of privacy in close-knit towns often make it harder to seek help.
That’s why Optus is proud to partner with Escabags, a charity founded by Stacy Jane, a domestic violence survivor who fled her abusive partner in 2019. Inspired by the kindness of strangers who helped her rebuild her life, Stacy created Escabags to offer others the same chance; by providing free, discreet ‘Escape Bags’ filled with essentials such as toiletries, baby products, and information to help survivors take their first steps to safety.

Each bag is sewn by volunteers and stocked in local police stations, hospitals, schools, banks, and now, selected Optus stores across Australia. To further support victims in crisis, the bags include a free Optus SIM card, giving survivors a safe, untraceable way to connect with loved ones, emergency services, or support networks without fear of being monitored.

“My phone was both my safety line and my greatest risk,” Stacy Jane, CEO and founder of Escabags explains. 

“When I fled, I needed a new number and a safe way to reach out. Now, through Escabags, I can give that lifeline to someone else.”

This partnership is part of Optus’ broader commitment to supporting regional communities and ensuring that even in the most isolated areas, there are tools to help people escape violence and rebuild their lives.

Read the full Daily Telegraph story on Escabags here.