More than 100 million free payphone calls have been made since all standard national and mobile calls became free in August 2021 – and the most dialed number is Santa’s hotline.
This weekend, Telstra will donate $1 to Kids Helpline* for every free call to Santa made from any payphone, helping young Australians access the support they need this Christmas.
In a world where most of us carry a mobile phone, it can be easy to overlook the role payphones still play, but across Australia, they remain a vital lifeline.
From natural disasters to vulnerable moments, or simply when a mobile isn’t available, payphones continue to be relied on. And since becoming free for standard national and mobile calls, that role has only grown — with more than 100 million free calls now made from payphones, averaging over 60,000 calls every day to keep Aussies connected during the moments that matter most.
While most payphone calls are made in moments of need – connecting people to essential services, emergency support or family – one festive favourite stands out: Santa’s hotline. Nearly two million of Australia’s 100 million free calls have been to Santa’s workshop, making #HOHOHO (#464646) the single most dialled number on our payphone network.
From wish-lists to quick check-ins to the North Pole, calling Santa has become a much-loved Christmas tradition that kids look forward to each year – sitting alongside the everyday, often critical calls payphones continue to support.
Our Free Calls to Santa initiative gives Aussie kids a way to chat with Santa from over 14,000 payphones across the country. It’s a fun, free and engaging way to celebrate the festive season while also teaching kids how to use a payphone – an important skill they might need in an emergency.
It’s a festive ritual kids love, and as we mark 100 million free payphone calls, our Charity Weekend is back, supporting Kids Helpline during one of their most important periods. Christmas can be a tough time for many young people, so over the weekend of 13-14 December, for every free call to Santa from a Telstra payphone, we’re donating $1 to Kid’s Helpline*. Every dollar helps Kids Helpline be there, round the clock, for young people aged 5-25 when they need it most.
"When that last school bell rings in December, there will be children and young people cut off from their main supports. Not only have they lost school as their safe place, but local services will also shut down. We are here for them, 24/7 – every day of the year,” said Hannah, Kids Helpline Counsellor.
In the past year alone, more than 8000 calls to Kids Helpline have been made from Telstra payphones – a reminder that for some young Australians, a payphone remains the safest or easiest way to reach out for help.
If a child also mentions anything concerning during their call to Santa, Santa will gently guide them to contact Kids Helpline or Triple Zero for support.
Our payphones are free for standard national and mobile calls year-round, helping people connect when they need it most. Since making all payphones free in August 2021, usage has more than tripled – now averaging over 25 million calls a year, including more than one million calls to emergency services over the past five years. Today, over 4,000 payphones offer free Wi-Fi, and 1,000 have been upgraded with extended battery backup and improved disaster-resilience features to help keep communities connected when it matters most.
To help spread festive cheer and support this year’s Free Calls to Santa Charity Weekend, simply:
📞 Head to any Telstra payphone on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December
🎄 Dial #HOHOHO (#46 46 46) to call Santa for free
💛 Each call donates $1 to Kids Helpline*
🙌 Help make a meaningful difference for young Australians this Christmas
To find your nearest payphone, use our Payphone Finder on Telstra.com or Google Maps. Santa’s elves have also added extra festive touches to select payphones — check our Festive Payphone Map below to discover one near you.
And for little callers wanting an extra bit of Christmas magic, you can visit one of our kid-sized payphones at Telstra’s Discovery Stores in Sydney and Melbourne, or Brisbane’s Queen Street store. Special Santa Phones are also available in all Telstra Retail Stores nationwide, giving families plenty of ways to get a call in this weekend.
*Donations will be made up to a predetermined amount to help ensure funds are distributed responsibly across our community programs. Telstra’s Free Calls to Santa charity weekend will run from 12:00am Saturday 13 December to 11:59pm Sunday 14 December 2025.
Kids Helpline is Australia's only free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Every 90 seconds, a young person reaches out to Kids Helpline for support, with more than 133,000 calls answered last year alone. Their dedicated counsellors provide support ranging from being a listening ear to delivering crisis interventions, working with police, ambulance, or other services to keep children and young people safe from immediate harm, such as child abuse, suicide and mental illness escalations.
