Emergency Contacts and Safety Preparation in Australia
Save the right emergency contacts, understand mobile-call limits, and prepare for fire, flood and water hazards using official guidance.
In this guide
Keep these numbers accessible
| Contact | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 000 | Urgent police, fire or ambulance |
| 131 444 | Police assistance for non-urgent matters |
| 132 500 | SES assistance for non-life-threatening storm, flood or tsunami emergencies |
| 1800 333 000 | Crime Stoppers: information about crime; not emergency dispatch |
| 13 11 14 | Lifeline crisis support, 24/7 |
| 1800 737 732 | 1800RESPECT: domestic, family and sexual violence support, 24/7 |
Sources: Australian Government emergency contact guide, Lifeline, 1800RESPECT.
Make an emergency call
Ask for police, fire or ambulance. Give the address, suburb, state and useful nearby landmarks. Explain what happened and follow the operator's instructions. Say the language you need if you need an interpreter; connection times cannot be guaranteed.
On mobiles, 112 reaches the same service as 000, but it is not a way around missing network coverage. If no mobile network is available, neither number can connect from a mobile. 106 is for TTY relay users; it is not a number for ordinary SMS. Read emergency calling and relay options before you need them.
Check an imported or older phone with your carrier. Some devices cannot make emergency calls after the 3G shutdown even if other functions work. ACMA says not to test a phone by calling 000. For remote trips, plan suitable communications before leaving coverage.
Health advice and ambulance costs
For non-emergency health guidance, Healthdirect lists 1800 022 222. If the situation becomes urgent, call 000.
Check costs before you need care, not during an emergency. Medicare does not cover ambulance services. State residence, concessions, subscriptions, insurance and the type of service can change liability. Queensland covers emergency pre-hospital treatment and transport for its residents; Tasmania also has resident-based coverage. A holiday in either state is not proof that you are covered. See the government ambulance-cover guide and confirm interstate, air-transport and non-emergency exclusions with your provider.
Beach and water safety
Choose a patrolled beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. Check local signs and ask lifesavers about conditions. Closures, marine stingers, water quality and weather can change the plan; flags are not a guarantee against every hazard.
If caught in a rip, avoid fighting the current. Float, raise an arm and call for help. A capable swimmer may be able to swim parallel to the beach towards breaking waves, but there is no single escape technique that works for every rip or swimmer. Read Surf Life Saving Australia’s rip-current advice. If someone is in trouble, alert a lifesaver or call 000; do not enter the water and become another casualty.
Use the current four-level fire danger system
Fire danger ratings describe potential conditions if a fire starts. They are separate from warnings about an actual incident. Check both for your area.
| Rating | Preparation and action |
|---|---|
| Moderate | Prepare your plan and stay informed |
| High | Be ready to act and decide where you will go if a fire starts |
| Extreme | Act to protect yourself; reconsider travel through fire-risk areas and leave early if your property and plan are not prepared for the conditions |
| Catastrophic | Leave bushfire-risk areas early, the night before or early morning, before a fire starts |
Official fire danger actions. Do not wait for a personal warning. If an incident is already nearby, follow emergency-service instructions rather than starting an unsafe evacuation on your own assumptions.
Floods, storms and local warnings
Never drive, walk, ride or play in floodwater. Check Bureau of Meteorology flood preparation and local warnings. Road closure information matters even when the rain has stopped.
Save the relevant official warning source: NSW SES, VicEmergency, Queensland disasters, Emergency WA, SA SES, TasALERT, ACT Emergency Services, SecureNT. For NSW bushfires also use NSW RFS; for SA bushfires use SA CFS.
Make a household plan: where to go, how to travel, who needs assistance, pet arrangements, medicine, documents, chargers and a way to receive information if mobile service or power fails. Check the plan with everyone who will use it.
Before driving
Drive on the left, wear the required seatbelts and restraints, obey signs and leave your phone alone while driving. Speed limits, alcohol rules, licence conditions and device restrictions differ by state and licence type. Do not use a generic rule-of-thumb as permission to drive.
Check your overseas-licence deadline and state authority before driving. For a road trip, check closures, fuel, fatigue breaks and coverage; change the trip if the conditions are unsafe.
Snake bites and crocodile country
A suspected snake bite is a medical emergency: call 000 for an ambulance, keep the person still and follow the operator. Healthdirect’s snake-bite first aid explains pressure immobilisation. Do not wash, cut or suck the bite, apply a tourniquet or try to catch the snake. Start CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, following emergency instructions.
Different bites and stings need different treatment. Do not apply snake-bite instructions to every animal injury.
In crocodile habitat, lack of a warning sign does not make water safe. Do not swim in waterways where crocodiles may live, keep away from the water’s edge and follow local park instructions. Read Queensland’s Be Crocwise guidance before travelling.
Check urgent requests independently
Pause if a call or message demands money, identity documents or login codes. Use the organisation's official website or a number you already trust to verify the request. If money or account access is at risk, contact your bank immediately and use Scamwatch for reporting and recovery guidance.
Support in distress
Lifeline offers 24/7 support by phone 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 and online chat. Call 000 for immediate danger. Our mental health directory separates crisis contacts from ongoing care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Australia?
Call 000 for urgent police, fire or ambulance help. Give the service required and your location, stay on the line and follow instructions. The call is free; ambulance treatment or transport may have separate charges.
Will 112 work without reception?
No. On a compatible mobile, 112 connects to the same emergency service as 000. It still needs coverage from an available mobile network. It does not provide satellite access or priority.
Can I send an ordinary text to 000 or 106?
No. 106 is a TTY emergency relay service, not ordinary SMS. People with hearing or speech communication difficulties should check the National Relay Service emergency-access options.
Is an ambulance free in Queensland and Tasmania?
Resident-based arrangements apply; being a visitor in either state does not itself establish coverage. Confirm residency, interstate travel, treatment and transport conditions with the ambulance service or insurer. Never delay an emergency call to check a bill.
What are the fire danger levels?
The current levels are Moderate, High, Extreme and Catastrophic. Follow current local warnings and your bushfire plan. For Catastrophic conditions, leave bushfire-risk areas early, before a fire starts or travel becomes unsafe.
This is a source-linked preparation guide, not live incident advice or first-aid training. Follow emergency operators, local warnings and current official instructions.