An Australian start-up is bringing back the landline phone for a new generation of children.
No screens, no internet, no doom-scrolling, and no creepy strangers.
Ciao Bella is a home phone built for children aged 4 years and up, and managed safely by a parent-controlled app.
Alternatives to the home phone marketed to families come with trade-offs many parents aren't comfortable with: smartwatches with GPS tracking, tablets that open the door to the entire internet, or hand-me-down smartphones loaded with apps designed to keep children glued to them.
Ciao Bella's answer is built on a simple principle: to give children a taste of independence within boundaries set by their parents. Every contact is approved through a parent-controlled app, and quiet hours can be scheduled so the phone won't ring during school, dinner or bedtime.
There's no way for a stranger to get through, and no rabbit hole for a child to fall down.
Calls between Ciao Bella phones are free, anywhere in the world, and every Ciao Bella in Australia can dial 000 at any time.
"We built a landline phone for kids because our own children were being offered a smartphone long before we were ready - and there wasn't an in-between," said co-founder Sophie Thomson, who grew up in Newcastle and attended St Francis Xavier's College in Hamilton.
"We wanted our kids to experience connection the way we did - picking up the phone to call a friend, not staring at a screen. But we also know the world has changed. Parents need control, and kids need independence. This gives both.
"Of all the children we observed through testing and using the devices, they had to pause, think and respond. I often think the art of conversation, asking thoughtful questions and allowing children to understand their manners and principles of conversation, has been forgotten. But we have revived that now through the use of Ciao Bella."
Children can choose the colours of their phone from three handset colours - cream, pink and black - which combine into nine mix-and-match combinations. Sticker customisations allow each child to have a little fun making the phone their own.
Ms Thomson, who now lives in Sydney but returns to Newcastle often to visit family, said the simplicity and safety offered by Ciao Bella phones also appealed to older Australians and their families.
"Some people do buy the phone for their parents and grandparents, who can be the target of scammers calling and asking for their credit card details," she said.
"It's so simple for them to pick up the phone and dial 1 and it connects them to their loved one immediately. They can't dial out to anyone, or have anyone dial in, that isn't in the 'safe network'.
"We'd love to partner with aged care homes or businesses to make it simpler for the elderly to be able to safely make a phone call. A lot of older people can't be bothered with smart devices, either."
Every Ciao Bella phone comes with two months of Bella Plus included, starting the day the phone is first connected. Bella Plus adds calls to and from any Australian landline or mobile.
After two months, the subscription is $14.99 a month, and nothing renews on its own: parents are asked before anything is charged. Calls between Ciao Bella phones, voicemail and 000 stay free either way.
"We're passionate about going a bit more analog because it brings more connection, which is what our business in founded on: connecting kids and combating loneliness," Ms Thomson said.
"People tend to lose touch with people if they don't have smartphones or don't know how to use them."
For more information visit ciaobellaphone.com.au or email [email protected].
Bourkelex Electrical owner Holly Bourke is the winner of the inaugural 2026 HIA Hunter Building Woman of the Year Award.
She was also named HIA Hunter Tradeswoman of the Year.
Ms Bourke is an electrician, business owner and leader who has built a thriving electrical business servicing Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. A passionate advocate for women in trades, she encourages and mentors young women entering the industry.
The inaugural 2026 HIA Hunter Building Women Awards gala ceremony was held on August 26 at Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club. Other category winners announced on the day were:
HIA Hunter executive director Craig Jennion said the awards showcased the growing influence of women across all areas of residential construction and business, and drew attention to the diverse career opportunities available within the residential building industry.
"In recent years we have seen more women pursuing rewarding careers across every area of residential construction, and these awards are an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and inspire the next generation," Mr Jennion said.
University of Newcastle PhD candidate Saskia Jones is the winner of this year's Three-Minute Thesis competition, which challenges higher-degree research finalists to explain years of work to a live audience in just three minutes using a single slide. Her presentation, Turning slip ups into sanctions: A fair go, or a double standard?, explored how minor infringements can lead to serious migration consequences for some asylum seekers living in Australia.
