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
Mobile backup emergency number — connects to the same call centre as 000 (not faster). Works even when the phone is locked.
106
Text emergency number for deaf or speech-impaired (TTY only). Type PPP for police, FFF for fire, AAA for ambulance.
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.
Car accident
🚨 If anyone is injured, call 000 immediately. You must stop — leaving is a hit-and-run (a crime).
Exchange names, contacts, number plates and insurance details (a legal duty), and collect scene photos and witness contacts. Police must be notified within 24 hours if someone died or was injured, a car needs towing, or the other driver refuses to exchange details. Do not admit fault at the scene — it can hurt your insurance claim.
Domestic & sexual violence
🚨 If you are in danger now: 000. You have the right to protection regardless of visa or residency status.
Contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732, 24h, free and confidential) for counselling and support. SMS 0458 737 732. After sexual assault, do not wash or change clothes (preserve evidence) and go to the nearest ED — reporting to police is your choice and does not need to be decided right away.
Mental health crisis (suicidal thoughts, severe anxiety)
🚨 If your life or someone else's is in danger, call 000 immediately.
Lifeline 13 11 14 (24h, SMS 0477 131 114), Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. If someone hints at suicide, do not leave them alone — stay and call together.
Poisoning & drug overdose
🚨 If unconscious, not breathing properly or convulsing — call 000 first.
If conscious with mild symptoms, call Poisons Information 13 11 26 (24h) first for instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless told to, and have ready what was taken, how much and when (keep the packaging).
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) |
| 1300 22 4636 | Beyond Blue — depression & anxiety support (24h) |
| 1800 737 732 | 1800RESPECT — domestic & sexual violence (24h) |
| 13 11 26 | Poisons Information — poisoning (24h) |
★You can ask for an interpreter on any of these numbers — "Korean/Chinese/Japanese/Vietnamese interpreter, please".
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.
Burns, bleeding and choking — where Australian guidance differs from back home
For burns, it's 20 minutes under cool running water — no ice, toothpaste, butter, soy sauce or other home remedies (the consistent advice from both healthdirect and St John). For severe bleeding, apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. For choking, the Australian guideline is up to 5 back blows, then up to 5 chest thrusts, repeated — abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich manoeuvre), widely taught overseas, are not recommended in Australia. It's a classic example of where what you learnt back home may not match.
Where to get first aid training (First Aid Training — HLTAID011)
St John Ambulance, Australian Red Cross and Royal Life Saving all run the nationally recognised first aid course (HLTAID011 Provide First Aid) year-round, and it's offered at TAFE as well. It's a one-day course with a certificate at the end, open to anyone regardless of visa type, and because it's a hiring requirement in industries like childcare and construction, plenty of employers will cover the cost. The certificate goes straight onto your resume too — an investment in your job prospects and your safety at the same time.
Help someone and you won't be held liable (Good Samaritan Laws)
Every Australian state and territory has legislation protecting people who give emergency assistance in good faith from civil liability. In most cases, that means there's no need to hold back for fear of being sued over clumsy help. The fine print of the protection does vary between states, though, so the rule of thumb is to help within what you've been trained to do, following the 000 call-taker's instructions.
Migrant-Specific Situations and Legal Protections
Your right to call 000 regardless of visa status (Emergency Services for Everyone)
The 000 call-taker won't ask about your visa, and police, fire and ambulance respond regardless of your immigration status. In a hostel fire, a workplace accident or any life-threatening situation, hesitating to call because you have no visa — or were working in breach of your visa conditions — puts your life and others' at far greater risk. Public hospital Emergency Departments treat first and bill later, too: you won't be refused emergency treatment just because you don't have Medicare.
Reporting crime as a migrant — and the fear of exposing your status
Victims of crime can report it and access victim support regardless of immigration status, and the first job of police answering an emergency call is dealing with the crime — not visa enforcement. If you're still worried about your status, you can first speak anonymously to a free Community Legal Centre or your state's Legal Aid before reporting. To pass on information about a crime without giving your identity, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Family violence and your visa — the Family Violence Provisions
Australian migration law includes family violence provisions that can allow a permanent residency application to keep progressing even where a partner-visa relationship has ended because of family violence (administered by the Department of Home Affairs). In other words, an abuser's threat that 'reporting will end your visa' may simply not be true — but the eligible visas and requirements are tightly defined, so advice from Legal Aid or a registered migration agent is essential. The most common mistake is giving up on seeking help based only on the information the abuser chooses to show you.
Specialist support services for victims from migrant backgrounds (Multicultural Victim Support)
There are services that specialise in supporting victims of family and sexual violence from migrant backgrounds — for example inTouch (Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence) in Victoria. You'll be matched with counsellors who understand the cultural, religious and community context, and TIS National interpreters are bound by professional confidentiality, so there's no need to refuse an interpreter for fear of word getting around your community. To find the specialist service in your state, call 1800RESPECT and ask for an interpreter.
Reporting workplace injuries and wage theft, with visa protection (Fair Work Ombudsman)
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) states officially that it helps workers regardless of visa status, and as at July 2026 protections are in operation so that visa holders who report wage exploitation do not have their visa cancelled solely for a work condition breach connected to that exploitation (the Strengthening Reporting Protections Pilot, along with the Workplace Justice visa, subclass 408, which extends your stay while the matter is resolved). Workers compensation for workplace injuries can also apply regardless of visa type, so check your state's scheme. The most common and most dangerous misconception is 'I was working illegally, so I have no rights if I get hurt'.
Response Time Expectations and What to Do Until Help Arrives
Response times depend on location and priority (Response Time · Triage)
000 ambulance calls are triaged by symptoms at the point of intake. The highest priority (a lights-and-sirens response) is relatively quick in the major cities, but in rural and remote areas distance alone can mean a wait of well over half an hour, and calls classed as non-urgent may sit in the queue for a long time or be redirected to a healthdirect nurse. The actual figures are published in each state ambulance service's annual report — focusing on 'what I can do until they get here' rather than 'why aren't they here yet' is what lifts survival rates.
Answering questions doesn't slow the ambulance down (Pre-arrival Instructions)
In many cases the ambulance has already been dispatched while the call-taker is still asking questions — hanging up with 'stop asking and just send someone' is the single most common mistake. The call-taker will give you step-by-step pre-arrival instructions until the crew arrives — CPR coaching, pressure on bleeding, the recovery position — so stay on the line and follow them. Tell them immediately if anything changes (such as the person stopping breathing), and don't hang up until they tell you to.
Make it easy for the crew to find you (Helping Crews Find You)
After the call, unlock or prop open the front door if you can, turn on outside lights at night, and if there's a spare person, send them out to the street to wave the ambulance in. Shut pets in another room, and gather a list of current medications, ID such as a passport, and a Medicare or travel insurance card in one spot. In apartment buildings, giving the call-taker the exact unit number and the building entry code can make all the difference to arrival time.
Plan for the call dropping out (Callback · Medical ID)
Give the call-taker your phone number accurately so they can ring you back if the call cuts out. Set up Medical ID (iPhone) or emergency medical information (Android) on your lock screen with ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts, allergies and medications, so paramedics can check them even if you lose consciousness. If you have family members who struggle with English, a proven approach is writing the address, emergency contacts and medications in English and sticking the note somewhere obvious like the fridge.
Australia's Emergency System vs Back Home (Korea · China · Vietnam · Japan)
One number for everything, not one per agency (One Number for All)
Korea splits its numbers by agency — 112 (police) and 119 (fire and ambulance) — as do China (110/119/120), Japan (110/119) and Vietnam (113/114/115), but in Australia police, fire and ambulance all sit behind the single number 000. People genuinely do dial their home country's number on reflex in a crisis, so make sure the whole family — especially children and older relatives — has 000 memorised. Knowing to answer the first question, 'Police, Fire or Ambulance?', with a single word is part of the same package.
Why you can't call 000 for non-emergencies (Misuse of Triple Zero)
000 is strictly for threats to life, safety or property that are happening right now. Calling it about noise complaints, lost property, an incident that ended days ago or general enquiries delays genuine emergency calls getting through, and prank or repeated misuse calls can attract penalties. For non-emergencies: police on 131 444, storm and flood damage via the SES on 132 500, health advice via healthdirect on 1800 022 222. The principle is simple — if you're not sure it's an emergency, call 000; if it's clearly not, use the dedicated number.
Emergency departments run on severity, not arrival order (Australasian Triage Scale)
Australian emergency departments decide who is seen first using a five-level severity system — the Australasian Triage Scale — not the order people walk in. Someone who arrived after you going in first isn't queue-jumping; it's the system working, and arguing at the desk won't change the order. The right move is to tell the triage nurse straight away if your symptoms get worse while you're waiting — your priority will then be reassessed.
Emergency calls work on overseas SIMs and roaming phones (Roaming · 112)
Emergency calls will connect even if you're roaming on an overseas SIM, have no SIM at all, or the phone screen is locked. They're designed to go through any carrier's network within reach even when your own provider has no signal, and 112 — the GSM international standard number — connects to the same call centre as 000 in Australia. The one exception is areas with no mobile coverage whatsoever, so for outback travel you'll need a satellite communication option or a shared plan with travel companions.
Calling for other people is the default (Bystander Reporting)
In Australia, third-party reports about 'someone else's business' — a stranger collapsed in the street, sounds of violence next door, smoke from a neighbour's house — are normal and expected. Unlike the worry from back home about getting into strife for sticking your nose in, caller details aren't casually disclosed and the system isn't built to punish good-faith reports. You don't need to be certain, either — the call-taker makes the judgement call, so if the situation is bad enough to make you hesitate, picking up the phone is the right answer.
State-by-State Differences in Emergency Services and Contacts
Who runs the ambulance service differs by state (State Ambulance Services)
Most states run their own ambulance service — NSW Ambulance, Ambulance Victoria, Queensland Ambulance Service — but in WA and the NT the service is contracted to the not-for-profit St John. From a user's point of view, calling is the same nationwide (000), but fee structures, membership schemes and who sends the bill all vary by state. Remember: move interstate and the ambulance billing rules change with you.
Ambulance membership and the interstate-transport trap (Ambulance Membership · Interstate Cover)
Some states run schemes where an annual fee covers your transport costs — Ambulance Victoria membership and St John WA membership, for example. The catch: even if it's free or you're a member in your home state, taking an ambulance while travelling in another state may be covered differently under reciprocal arrangements — check the interstate cover clause in the terms before joining. Ambulance cover under private health insurance Extras also applies differently by state, so the safe option is asking your insurer based on the state you actually live in.
Disaster alerts come through each state's official app (State Emergency Apps · Fire Danger Ratings)
Bushfire and flood warning channels differ by state — NSW uses the 'Hazards Near Me' app, VIC the 'VicEmergency' app, WA the Emergency WA website, and so on. Fire danger ratings, by contrast, use a single national system (the Australian Fire Danger Rating System), shown on roadside signs and in weather forecasts. Before bushfire season, install your state's app and set a watch zone around where you live — and if you move interstate, your old state's app won't alert you about your new address.
Storm and flood damage is SES 132 500, not 000 (State Emergency Service)
Storm and flood damage — a torn-off roof, a flooded house, a fallen tree — is a job for the SES on 132 500. The number is national, but the crews who turn up are state-based volunteer organisations like NSW SES and VICSES. If life is in danger (trapped in floodwater, for instance), then it's 000. And never cross a flooded road, whether driving or on foot — it's such a leading cause of flood deaths in Australia that the Queensland Government runs an entire campaign around the slogan 'If it's flooded, forget it'.
Police reports and looking after your event number (Police Event Number · Online Reporting)
The event number you're given after a non-emergency report gets asked for again and again — in insurance claims, visa paperwork and legal proceedings — so photograph it and keep it safe. Some states, including NSW, let you report minor incidents and look up reports through an online portal, while the process and turnaround for an official report copy varies by state. Jotting down what happened in time order soon after the incident (it doesn't have to be in English) will help you keep your account consistent later on.
Road Accidents — Legal Process and Insurance Claims
What CTP insurance covers — and what it doesn't (CTP · Green Slip)
CTP (Compulsory Third Party) insurance, mandatory with vehicle registration (rego) in every state, covers compensation for injuries to people only — it does not cover damage to vehicles or property. For car repairs you need separate comprehensive or third party property insurance. In NSW, CTP is purchased separately as a 'Green Slip'; in most other states it's bundled into the rego fee. 'I've paid my rego, so I'm fully covered if I crash' is the most common — and most expensive — misconception among migrants.
Injury compensation schemes are completely different by state (TAC · SIRA · MAIC)
VIC has a single agency, the TAC (Transport Accident Commission), which funds treatment largely regardless of fault; NSW runs a private-insurer system overseen by SIRA (State Insurance Regulatory Authority); and QLD has a private CTP system overseen by MAIC (Motor Accident Insurance Commission). The same accident can mean a different claims channel and different cover depending on the state, so start by finding out the name of your own state's scheme. The worst-case scenario is never claiming at all because you didn't know the scheme existed.
Claim deadlines — they can close sooner than you think (Claim Time Limits)
Some states set short notification windows for CTP injury claims, and in states like NSW, reporting early can work in your favour for backdated benefits — so lodging promptly after an accident can really matter. The limitation period for general damages claims is commonly cited as around three years, but it varies by state and by case, so confirm it with legal advice. The most common mistake is putting it off with 'I'll look into it once I've recovered' — simply lodging the claim first is not the same as suing anyone.
Evidence and medical records are the whole claim (Evidence · Medical Records)
On top of the police event number, photos of the scene and vehicles, and witness contact details, a GP or emergency department visit on the day of the accident or soon after can become the core evidence for a later injury claim. Some pain — whiplash, for example — only surfaces days later, so make sure the record explicitly states your symptoms are from a 'motor vehicle accident'. Skipping the doctor because you feel fine straight after the crash can make it very hard to prove the link between the accident and the injury later.
Legal advice — start with the free services, and read the No Win No Fee fine print (Legal Aid · CLC)
You can get initial legal advice from your state's Legal Aid (for example, Legal Aid NSW) and from free Community Legal Centres, with an interpreter via TIS National on 131 450. With personal injury lawyers, a 'No Win, No Fee' agreement can still leave you exposed to costs like the other side's legal fees even when your own lawyer charges nothing on a loss — check the costs clauses carefully before signing. Likewise, an insurer's early settlement offer can shut the door on further claims once you sign, so legal advice before accepting is strongly recommended.
Recovering mentally after a crash is treatment too (Post-accident Psychological Support)
Fear of driving, insomnia and anxiety after an accident are common reactions, and if you ask your GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan you can access Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions (where you're eligible for Medicare). Some transport accident schemes — VIC's TAC, for instance — include accident-related psychological treatment in their cover, so it's worth asking the relevant compensation body. For crisis-level anxiety or depression, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours) — and you can ask for an interpreter.