Emergency numbers you need to know in Australia

While holidays are full of fun and relaxation, they can also throw unexpected challenges your way, ranging from major natural disasters to personal illnesses or injuries. Being away from home can also be mentally overwhelming and sometimes, you just need somebody to talk to. These are the emergency contact numbers you need to know in Australia.

What is the emergency number in Australia?

Call Triple Zero (000) for police, fire or ambulance services in Australia. All calls to emergency service numbers are free of charge from any type of phone. You should call 000 if:

• Your life or property is under threat 
• You have just witnessed a serious accident or came
• You or someone you know is seriously injured or in need of time-critical medical assistance 

There are two secondary emergency service numbers in Australia – 112 and 106.

• 112 is an international standard emergency number and will automatically transfer you to Australia’s emergency 000 call service. However, it can only be dialled on a digital mobile phone.
• 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.

Calling 911 (the emergency number used in countries such as the US and Canada) will not re-route to Triple Zero (000).

 What is the State Emergency Services (SES) number in Australia? 

Call the SES on 13 25 00 for any emergencies caused by flooding or storms. Each Australian state and territory has its own SES chapter, but the national number applies everywhere.

You can find a full list of state and territory emergency service organisations in Australia here.

Who to call for after-hours healthcare in Australia?

Call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 for health advice about any illness or injuries after-hours. You can call for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in Australia.

What is the poison hotline number in Australia?

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 if you think someone has been poisoned, overdosed, made a mistake with medicines, or been bitten or stung by something venomous (eg: a snake, spider, bee or wasp). You can call 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in Australia.

Mental Health Helplines

The following numbers are free, 24-hour crisis support lines for when you’re feeling down: 

• Lifeline  – call 13 11 14, text 0477 131 114 or chat online
• Provides crisis counselling and suicide prevention services.
• Beyond Blue – call 1300 224 636 or chat online
• Provides counselling services for people with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
• Suicide Call Back Service  – call 1300 659 467 or chat online
• Provides counselling for suicide prevention, helping anyone affected by suicidal thoughts.
• Kids Helpline – call 1800 551 800
• Provides counselling for children and young people aged five to 25.
• Headspace – call 1800 650 890 or chat online
• Provides online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 to 25 and their families and friends.
• 13YARN – call 13 92 76
• Provides crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• QLife – call 1800 184 527 or chat online
• Provides peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
• MensLine Australia – call 1300 789 978 or chat online
• Provides counselling and referral services for men.
• 1800RESPECT – call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or chat online
• Provides counselling and referral services for anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
• National Alcohol and Drug Hotline – call 1800 250 015 
• Provides advice about alcohol and other drugs, including treatment options.

How to get an emergency passport in Australia?

If you urgently need a passport, then you must first lodge an application on the Australian Passport Office website here. You can then call 13 12 32 to request priority processing (fees apply and applications will be processed in two days from when the application is received). You can find out more here.