To help parents connect to their kids while supporting their independence, we’re launching a new plan just for Apple Watch.
We've launched the Telstra Watch Plan, a $20 per month plan built for Apple Watch that gives kids their own number for calls, messages and location sharing. Paired with Apple Watch For Your Kids, it gives parents a new way to stay connected to children who are ready for more independence but don't yet have an iPhone.
New YouGov research found 87% of parents say it's important to be able to contact their child when they're apart, and 82% are interested in a device that keeps them in touch with children who don't yet have a smartphone.
Parents want their kids to have those first tastes of independence: the walk to school, a quick message after footy training, a check-in from a sleepover. They also want to be able to reach them. There's no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to children and technology, so we're launching this to give parents more options.
The Telstra Watch Plan is a $20 per month standalone mobile plan for smartwatches. The watch gets its own mobile number and works independently, while staying linked to a parent's iPhone.
Most parents introduce one as their child starts spending more time away from home. The YouGov research found 81% of parents want children without smartphones to have some independence, and identified the milestones that most often prompt the decision.
That's where an Apple Watch on a Telstra Watch Plan is finding a role.
Parents Hannah and Aron describe the balancing act.
Their 11-year-old daughter is gaining more independence, heading to the shops with friends, travelling to and from school and going to busy local community events. She also lives with anaphylaxis, so being able to reach her matters, even when she's chaperoned.
"Smartwatches have been a great way to give our daughter a bit more independence. She can start doing more on her own, like getting to school or meeting friends, while still being able to stay in touch. It's that balance of letting her grow, while knowing we can reach her if we need to."
Hannah and Aron, parents
The research identified the top four benefits parents see in an Apple Watch for their child.
For Ana and Andrew, parents of a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old, deciding when and how to introduce personal tech is still an evolving call. They're focused on building healthy habits and emotional maturity, and are open to smartwatches as a first step that suits the family right now.
"We are considering smartwatches because they give us more choice in how the kids stay connected. It feels like a way to introduce technology on our terms, keeping it simple, focused on what we need, while supporting their independence as they grow."
Ana and Andrew, parents
Apple Watch For Your Kids brings the connectivity, fitness, health and safety features of Apple Watch to children who don't have their own iPhone.
Apple Watch For Your Kids is set up through a parent's iPhone, and kids using it have their own Apple Account and phone number. Connected to a Telstra Watch Plan, it lets parents reach their child and see their location through Find My. Kids also get safety tools including Emergency SOS, which works in areas with mobile coverage.
Kids can call and message family and friends, work towards personalised Activity goals, express themselves through Memoji, download apps from the App Store, and use Maps, Siri and Alarms.
Apple Watch SE 3 is a strong option here. It has a cover glass made from the toughest glass in the industry, plays media directly through the speakers, and supports 5G and fast charging.
See what's included in the Telstra Watch Plan, and how Apple Watch For Your Kids is set up from a parent's iPhone.
Explore the Telstra Watch Plan Learn about Apple Watch For Your Kids (opens new tab)
This study was conducted online between 17 and 23 June 2026. The sample comprised 1,010 Australian parents with children aged 5 to 12 years. For brevity, this audience is referred to as "parents" in this article. Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest population estimates. This study was carried out in accordance with the ISO 20252:2019 standards, to which YouGov is accredited.
