Telstra today announced the launch of its new Telstra Watch Plan, a standalone $20 per month mobile plan for Apple Watch that gives children their own mobile number for calls, messages and location sharing when paired with Apple Watch For Your Kids.
The launch comes as new YouGov research commissioned by Telstra found 87 per cent of Australian parents say it’s important to be able to contact their child when they’re apart, while 82 per cent are interested in a connected device that helps them stay in touch with children who do not yet have a smartphone.
Tom Beach, Telstra Consumer Executive, said families are increasingly looking for more choice in how they introduce technology as their children become more independent.
“Every family approaches technology differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What we’re hearing from parents is they want options that help them stay connected while supporting their child’s growing independence.”
“For many families, the first independent walk to school, catching public transport or heading to sport are important milestones. The Telstra Watch Plan, paired with Apple Watch For Your Kids, gives parents another way to stay connected without introducing a smartphone.”
The standalone plan enables Apple Watch to work independently while remaining linked to a parent’s iPhone. It includes unlimited standard calls and texts within Australia, 2GB of monthly data and data sharing across eligible Telstra plans.
The research suggests these milestones are often the point at which parents begin considering a connected device for their child. Parents identified spending more time away from home without supervision (46%), using public transport independently (41%), walking to school (39%), attending sport or extracurricular activities (38%), starting high school (36%) and visiting friends independently (35%) as key moments.
Parents Hannah and Aron said an Apple Watch has helped them navigate this transition with their 11-year-old daughter.
“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.”
Research also found parents see the biggest benefits of connected smartwatches as helping them stay connected in an emergency (56%), providing greater peace of mind (40%), enabling connection without a smartphone (40%) and supporting children’s growing independence (32%).
Parents Ana and Andrew, who have children aged five and eight, said they see smartwatches as one option for introducing technology gradually.
“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 and focused on what we need, while supporting their independence as they grow.”
Apple Watch For Your Kids allows parents to set up an Apple Watch for a child using their own iPhone. Children receive their own Apple Account and phone number, enabling calls, messages and location sharing through Find My, while also providing access to features such as Emergency SOS in areas with mobile coverage, Activity tracking, Maps, Siri and approved apps.
The Telstra Watch Plan is available from today for $20 per month.
About the Telstra Watch Plan
The Telstra Watch Plan includes:
- $20 per month standalone mobile plan for Apple Watch
- Dedicated mobile number
- Unlimited standard calls and texts within Australia
- 2GB of monthly data
- Data sharing across eligible Telstra plans
- Research highlights
New YouGov research commissioned by Telstra found:
- 87% of parents say staying in contact with their child is important.
- 82% are interested in a connected device for children who do not yet have a smartphone.
- 81% want their child to have greater independence before getting a smartphone.
Parents identified the following milestones as the most common triggers for introducing a connected device:
- Spending more time away from home without supervision (46%)
- Using public transport independently (41%)
- Walking to school independently (39%)
- Attending sport or extracurricular activities independently (38%)
- Starting high school (36%)
- Visiting friends independently (35%)
Study was conducted online between 17th – 23rd June 2026. The sample is comprised of 1,010 Australian parents with child/ren aged 5-12 years. For brevity, this audience will be referred to as ‘parents’ in this report. Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest population estimates. This study has been carried out in accordance with the ISO 20252:2019 standards, to which YouGov is accredited.
