The federal government has announced $560,000 for the Safer Technology for Women Program offered by the Women's Services Network, or WESNET.

The program was previously federally funded until June 30.

WESNET national director Karen Bentley said the newly announced funding was intended to last the program until March.

"We're pleased the government is giving us funding to continue for nine months," she said.

She said it was clear the government had recognised the program was crucial and essential in the pandemic.

WESNET provided about 600 phones a month to women experiencing family and domestic violence.

"We are expecting that number to increase in coming weeks as everyone's need for access to technology increases," Ms Bentley said.

"Women need access to safe technology to be able to get support or reach out for help."

Telstra had committed to donating 18,000 phones in the next three years.

WESNET had been determined to keep providing the program, which it needed $1m a year to deliver.

Ms Bentley said training was essential to the initiative.

"Smartphones are really mini-computers in this day and age, and getting one set up safely for a woman requires so she is safe from abuse is not that easy," she said.

"WESNET has tech safety specialists who keep up to date with all the different ways that abusers misuse smartphone technology.

"The team also helps advise women and frontline workers on technology-facilitated abuse and how to be safe online as a survivor of family and domestic violence."

Central Victorian services responding to the scourge of family violence had called on the federal government to fund the program, which is credited with saving lives.

Both the Centre for Non-Violence and Annie North said WESNET's Safer Technology for Women Program was critical to their work.

Anne North chief executive and WESNET national chair Julie Oberin said the program was even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic because direct crisis support through to counselling had almost exclusively moved to remote support via phones and other devices.

She said workers needed women to have data and a phone the perpetrator was not monitoring.

"What we are finding is that the women we are currently supporting are increasingly experiencing higher levels of anxiety and fear because of the unknown and potential impact of the virus, at the same time as they are dealing with the impact from their recent trauma from family violence." Ms Oberin said.

"Once women get to us and other front-line agencies who are part of the Safe Connections program, they can get access to a new phone and we can help them set it up safely.

"We have only been able to do that with the specialist expertise and support of the WESNET program including regular training and access to their tech abuse updates."

About 100 women received phones through the program via the Centre for Non-Violence in the past 18 months.

"Many phones are compromised when women access our services," Centre for Non-Violence chief executive Margaret Augerinos said.

"We know women are most at risk when a relationship ends, and often men are tracking their partner's movements through their phones, from afar."

She said CNV often had to contact police out of concern a woman's phone was being tracked.

"In other situations, a woman's device may have been damaged or smashed and she no longer has access to a phone," Ms Augerinos said.

She said it was important to ensure women stayed connected to their networks and support services and had the tools available to be able to document any further abuse.

"The program also offers essential training to our front line staff, who are making risk assessments about a woman's safety," Ms Augerinos said.

"It is important we do not place the burden on women to protect themselves and remain safe - we must continue to hold perpetrators to account and place the onus on them to change their attitudes and behaviour.

"The only way we can do this is to address the drivers of violence against women and children."

Gender inequality was the main driver of violence against women, which included attitudes that excused or condoned violence, limited women's decision-making, adhered to rigid gender roles and disrespected women.

Ms Bentley said services for women experiencing violence were still available during the crisis, and so was 1800 RESPECT if they needed support and advice.

"We also encourage friends, neighbours and family to stay in touch with women that might be vulnerable during this time," she said.

WESNET has a Technology Safety and Privacy Toolkit to help women who are experiencing abuse through technology, which is available online at www.techsafety.org.au/resources

If you or someone you know needs support, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, phone 000.