The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Arts advises the Australian Government about Australia's regulatory framework for the emergency call service.
Triple Zero (000) is the number most Australians will use to call the police, fire or ambulance in an emergency situation. Triple Zero can be dialled from any fixed or mobile phone, pay phone and certain Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. Emergency calls go to a national operator, who sends them to the appropriate local police, fire or ambulance service.
There are also two secondary emergency service numbers—112 and 106:
- 112—the international standard emergency number, which can only be dialled on a digital mobile phone. It does not require a simcard or pin number to make the call, however mobile coverage must be available (from at least one carrier) for the call to proceed.
- 106—the emergency number which connects to the text-based relay service for people who are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, which can be called from a TTY (also known as a teletypewriter or textphone).
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulates and monitors the provision of the emergency call service under:
- Part 8 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999
- Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2009.
Find out more
- ACMA website
- Triple Zero website
- National Relay Service website
- Register of Telecommunications Contracts (Emergency Call Service).
Emergency alert warnings
Emergency Alert is the national telephone warning system used by State and Territory emergency service organisations to send voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobile phones within a defined area about likely or actual emergencies.
Find out more at www.emergencyalert.gov.au.
Advanced Mobile Location (AML)
Advanced Mobile Location (AML) technology is now being deployed for the Australian Triple Zero (000) Emergency Call Service.
AML is a technology that allows mobile phones to send more precise location coordinates when a call to Triple Zero is made. AML technology complements existing processes and procedures by assisting emergency services locate those needing help faster.
AML uses the same location technology that is already used on smartphones when looking up directions or using a ride share service.
Find out more at www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-centre/advanced-mobile-location.