Australia Emergency Response Guide
Who to call and what to say when a life is at risk — from dialling 000 to handling each situation.
🚨 If a life is at risk, always call 000 (Triple Zero)
Police, fire and ambulance are all reached on 000. Free from any phone, 24 hours. Limited English is fine — see the interpreter section below.
How to call 000 — what to say
When you call 000, the operator first asks "Police, Fire or Ambulance?". Follow these steps.
- 1
Get somewhere safe and calmly dial 000.
- 2
When asked "Police, Fire or Ambulance?", say one word for the service you need — "Police" for crime, "Fire" for fire, "Ambulance" for injury or illness.
- 3
Give your location clearly — street number, street name, nearest cross street, then suburb.
- 4
Answer the operator's questions about what happened and whether anyone is hurt.
Never hang up until the operator tells you it is okay to do so.
112
Giving your location
The operator will always ask where you are. The more precise you are, the faster help arrives.
- ✓Say the street number + street name + nearest cross street + suburb.
- ✓In rural areas, add the property name and distances from landmarks or roads.
- ✓If you do not know where you are, read out shop signs, road signs or bus stop numbers around you.
Install the official free Emergency+ app in advance — it shows your GPS coordinates so you can read them to the operator. With location services on, AML may also send your location automatically.
If English is hard
In an emergency — getting an interpreter on 000
Even with no English, call 000, say just one word — "Police", "Fire" or "Ambulance" — then stay on the line. The operator will connect an interpreter. You can also name your language, for example "Vietnamese interpreter".
Non-emergency interpreting — TIS National — 131 450
For non-emergencies (hospital bookings, government calls), phone 131 450 (24 hours), say your language, and an interpreter joins and calls the organisation with you. Free for government-funded services such as medical providers. Note: 131 450 is NOT an emergency number — if a life is at risk, call 000 first.
If you cannot speak because you are in danger, do not hang up — silence itself signals the operator that something is wrong. Landline calls show your registered address automatically.
What to do by situation
Medical emergency (unconscious, trouble breathing, chest pain, severe bleeding, suspected stroke)
🚨 Call 000 immediately → "Ambulance". Worry about cost later — life comes first.
For non-life-threatening symptoms, call healthdirect 1800 022 222 (24h registered nurse) first — they advise whether to go to the ED or a GP. Going to the ED with mild symptoms can mean a 4–8 hour wait.
Crime & theft (robbery, assault, break-in)
🚨 If a crime is in progress or you are in danger now: 000 → "Police".
For incidents already over (stolen car or property, damage), report to 131 444 (Police Assistance Line). Note the Event Number (starts with E) for insurance, and photograph the scene.
All emergency numbers
| Number | Situation |
|---|---|
| 000 | Life-threatening — police, fire, ambulance (free nationwide, 24h) |
| 112 | Mobile backup emergency number (same connection as 000) |
| 106 | Text emergency for deaf/speech-impaired (TTY only) |
| 131 450 | Interpreting, TIS National — non-emergency (24h) |
| 131 444 | Non-urgent police reports (Police Assistance Line) |
| 132 500 | SES — storm & flood damage (State Emergency Service) |
| 1800 022 222 | healthdirect — 24h nurse health advice |
| 13 11 14 | Lifeline — crisis support & suicide prevention (24h) |
Frequently asked questions
Is calling 000 really free?▾
Yes. It is free from landlines, mobiles and payphones, and works even with no credit or no SIM card.
Is the ambulance free too?▾
The call is free, but ambulance transport costs vary by state — free for residents in QLD and TAS, paid in NSW, VIC, SA and WA ($400–2,000+). If a life is at risk, call regardless of cost. Private Extras or ambulance-only cover can protect you.
Can I call 000 with no English at all?▾
Yes. Say just one word — "Police", "Fire" or "Ambulance" — and stay on the line; the operator connects a free interpreter. With location services on, your location can also be sent automatically.
In-Depth Guide — From First Aid to What Happens After an Accident
Once you know how to call 000, the next questions are what to do until the ambulance arrives, whether you can ask for help without worrying about your visa status, and what the legal process looks like after an accident. We've pulled together the deeper questions that residents from migrant backgrounds actually run into.
The Basics — Before, During and After an Emergency
Australia's standard first aid sequence — DRSABCD (Action Plan)
First aid training in Australia teaches the DRSABCD action plan as the standard sequence — Danger (check for hazards) → Response (check for a response) → Send for help (call 000) → Airway → Breathing → CPR → Defibrillation. The key point is that the first step isn't the patient — it's checking your own safety as the rescuer. Rush blindly into an electrocution, road or fire scene and you turn one casualty into two. Both St John Ambulance Australia and Australian Red Cross courses use this framework.
CPR fundamentals — compressions alone are fine (Compression-only CPR)
For adults, the cycle is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, at a compression rate of 100–120 per minute. If rescue breaths feel daunting or you haven't been trained, continuous chest compressions on their own are recognised under Australian resuscitation guidance (in line with Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines) — the worst option is doing nothing because you can't do it perfectly. The 000 call-taker will coach you through CPR step by step over the phone, so put it on speaker and follow their instructions.
Defibrillators — anyone can use one, no certificate required (AED)
AEDs are installed in shopping centres, gyms, train stations, libraries and other public places. Switch one on and it talks you through every step, and it's designed to deliver a shock only when one is actually needed. Contrary to the common myth that you can't touch one without a qualification, anyone can use an AED. If there are other people around, split the roles — one person does CPR while another fetches the AED.