Australia's Emergency Phone Number: What You Need To Know

what is the emergency phone number in australia

Australia's primary national emergency telephone number is Triple Zero or 000. Calls to this number are initially answered by Telstra and then transferred to state and territory emergency services organisations. The number is intended for use in life-threatening or time-critical emergencies and connects callers to police, fire, or ambulance services. It is free to call Triple Zero from any type of phone, including mobiles, satellite phones, and public payphones. Australia also has two secondary emergency service numbers, 112 and 106, which are a text-based relay service for people with a speech or hearing impairment.

Characteristics Values
Primary national emergency number 000 or Triple Zero
Secondary emergency numbers 112, 106
Text-based emergency number for people with a speech or hearing impairment 106
Emergency number for poison-related cases 13 11 26
Health advice helpline 1800 022 222
Crisis support helpline 13 11 14
Counselling and referral services for men 1300 789 978
Counselling and referral services for victims of family and domestic violence 1800 737 732
Alcohol and drug helpline 1800 250 015

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How to call emergency services in Australia

The primary national emergency telephone number in Australia is Triple Zero (000). This number is free to call from any phone, including mobiles, certain VoIP and satellite services, and public payphones. When you dial 000, you will first hear a recorded message, after which your call will be answered by a Telstra operator who will ask whether you require the police, fire services, or an ambulance. You may also be asked to provide your location, including your state, town, and road name. The operator will then connect you to the relevant service and remain on the line with you until your call is answered.

It is important to note that the 000 emergency service is only intended for life-threatening or time-critical emergencies. For non-English speakers, calls will be automatically transferred to the police in their state or territory, where a translator can be arranged.

In addition to Triple Zero, there are two secondary emergency service numbers in Australia: 112 and 106. 112 is the international standard emergency number and will automatically redirect to 000. However, it can only be dialled from a digital mobile phone. 106, on the other hand, is a text-based emergency service for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. This number can only be used with a teletypewriter (TTY) or a device for the deaf.

For other emergency situations that are not life-threatening, there are additional numbers you can call. For emergencies caused by flooding or storms, you can call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 13 25 00. If you require health advice after hours, you can contact the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222, available 24/7 across Australia. To report suspected poisoning, overdose, medicine mistakes, or venomous bites and stings, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, also available 24/7 nationwide.

Additionally, there are several crisis support lines available in Australia, such as Lifeline (13 11 14) and MensLine Australia (1300 789 978), which offer counselling and support services for a range of issues, including suicide prevention, mental health, and domestic violence.

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Secondary emergency service numbers

In addition to the primary emergency number, 000, Australia has two secondary emergency service numbers: 112 and 106. These numbers are intended for specific situations and may only work on certain services.

112

The number 112 is an international standard emergency number. Dialling 112 will automatically transfer you to Australia's emergency 000 call service. However, this number can only be dialled on a digital mobile phone.

106

The number 106 is a text-based relay emergency service number for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. It can only be used with a teletypewriter (TTY) or a device for the deaf.

Other emergency services

There are other emergency services in Australia that cater to specific situations. These include:

  • The State Emergency Service (SES): 13 25 00. This number is for emergencies caused by flooding or storms.
  • The Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26. This number can be called if you think someone has been poisoned, has overdosed, has made a mistake with medicines, or has been bitten or stung by something venomous.
  • Lifeline: 13 11 14. This is a 24-hour crisis support line providing crisis counselling and suicide prevention services.
  • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467. This service provides counselling for suicide prevention and helps anyone affected by suicidal thoughts.
  • MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978. This service provides counselling and referral services for men.
  • 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. This service provides counselling and referral services for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
  • Healthdirect helpline: 1800 022 222. This helpline provides health advice about any illness or injuries after hours.

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Emergency services for deaf or hard-of-hearing people

Australia's national emergency telephone number is 000, also known as Triple Zero. This number is free to call from any fixed or mobile phone, satellite phone, and certain VoIP and satellite services. Calls to 000 are initially answered by Telstra, then transferred to state and territory emergency services organisations—police, fire, or ambulance services.

However, if you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the National Relay Service (NRS) to make calls to emergency services. The NRS provides a range of different call services, and Relay Officers are specially trained staff who help with every call. They will stay on the line throughout the call to help you without disrupting the conversation. The NRS is free and available 24 hours a day, except for Video Relay calls, which are only available during specific times and not on national public holidays.

Additionally, there is a text-based emergency service number, 106, which can be used with a teletypewriter (TTY) or a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) textphone. This number is specifically for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment.

Deaf Australia is another organisation that provides support and advocacy for the deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing community. They offer information and services in Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and actively campaign for the rights of this community. Similarly, Deaf Connect provides aged care services, Australian Sign Language classes, and support for daily living and community participation for those who use Auslan as their primary language.

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Non-English speakers and emergency services

Australia's main emergency telephone number is Triple Zero (000). This number is free to call from any phone, including mobiles, certain VoIP and satellite services, and public payphones. In an emergency, all callers should dial 000, regardless of their level of English. If a non-English speaker calls this number, they will be connected to the police in their state or territory, who will then arrange a translator.

If you are a non-English speaker and need an interpreter in an emergency, you can access interpreter services through the Triple Zero service. The call taker will establish a three-way conversation with the caller and interpreter to facilitate communication.

In addition to the Triple Zero service, there are other emergency service numbers in Australia that may be useful for non-English speakers. For example, if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the 106 emergency number. This is a text-based service that can be accessed via a teletypewriter (TTY) or a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD). When you call 106, a relay officer will connect you to the emergency service organisation (police, fire, or ambulance) that you request. This service is also provided free of charge.

If you are in a remote location, it is recommended that you use the Emergency+ app to contact emergency services. This app uses your phone's GPS data to display your location on the screen, allowing you to read your location aloud to the operator. The app is available for free download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

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Emergency+ app for smartphones

Australia's national emergency telephone number is Triple Zero (000). This number is free to call from any phone, including mobiles, certain VoIP and satellite services, and 'handheld' satellite phones.

In an emergency, time and location accuracy are critical. To address this, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) developed the Emergency+ app for smartphones, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store and Apple App store. The app is particularly useful for Australians in remote locations, as it uses the phone's GPS data to display the caller's location on the screen, allowing the caller to read their location aloud to the operator. This is especially helpful when the caller is far from any roads and may not know their exact location.

The Emergency+ app also uses what3words, a system that has divided the world into 3-metre squares, each with a unique three-word identifier. This means that callers can quickly and accurately communicate their location to emergency services, even when they have no data coverage.

In addition to the Emergency+ app, there are other emergency apps available for smartphones, such as the SES Assistance QLD app, which can be used when you or your property are in danger due to floods or storms in Queensland. It is important to note that the Emergency+ app is not a replacement for calling Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, but rather a tool to assist in providing critical location information to emergency services.

Frequently asked questions

The primary national emergency telephone number in Australia is 000, or Triple Zero. This number is free to call from any phone, including mobiles and certain satellite services.

When you dial 000, you will first hear a recorded message confirming that you have dialled Triple Zero. Your call is then answered by a Telstra operator who will ask whether you need the police, fire services or an ambulance. You may also be asked to provide your location.

Yes, there are two secondary emergency numbers in Australia: 112 and 106. 112 is an international standard emergency number that will redirect to 000. 106 is a text-based emergency service for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. This number can only be used with a teletypewriter (TTY) or a device for the deaf.

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