Emergency numbers: 000, 112, 106 and non-emergency numbers

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the ArtsVerified 22 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

In Australia, if someone is seriously injured, life or property is in danger, or you have just seen a serious accident or crime, call 000 (Triple Zero). When the call connects, say whether you need police, fire or ambulance. The call is free. From a mobile you can also dial 112, which reaches the same service. People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment use a TTY to call 106. Do not tie up 000 with non-urgent matters: the police non-emergency number is 131 444, storm and flood help is SES 132 500, health questions go to healthdirect 1800 022 222, and poisoning to 13 11 26.

Key facts

Emergency number: 000 (Triple Zero) for police, fire and ambulance, in life-threatening or time-critical situations. It works from landlines, mobiles, satellite phones and some VoIP services, and it is free¹
112: The international standard emergency number. It works from mobiles only and reaches the same service as 000. It gets no priority over 000, does not work from landlines or satellite phones, and needs no SIM card or unlock code, but you must have mobile coverage³
106 text emergency service: For people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. Dial 106 on a TTY (teletypewriter), 24 hours, free, through the National Relay Service to reach police, fire or ambulance. Type PPP for police, FFF for fire and AAA for ambulance³
No text messages: 000 does not accept SMS. Do not dial 911 in Australia; a 911 call is not transferred to 000³
No signal, no call: Where no carrier has coverage at all, a mobile cannot reach 000. If your own network has no signal, your phone automatically borrows another network (emergency camp-on). If the first attempt does not connect within 5 seconds, hang up and redial; after that, wait up to 60 seconds each time²
If you do not speak English: The official advice is to call 000 from a landline, say police, fire or ambulance, then stay on the line; a translator will be arranged to help²
Your mobile sends your location: When you call 000 or 112 from a mobile, many smartphones use Advanced Mobile Location to turn on location services during the call and text your estimated position to the call centre. You should still try to say where you are²
Emergency+ app: A free official app that uses your phone's GPS to show your location so you can read it out to 000. The app also dials SES 132 500 and the police non-emergency line 131 444 directly⁴
Non-emergency numbers: State Emergency Service (SES) for floods, storms and tsunami: 132 500. Police Assistance Line for non-urgent police matters: 131 444. Crime Stoppers to give information about a crime: 1800 333 000¹
healthdirect helpline: 1800 022 222, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free (calls from mobiles may cost). Registered nurses help you decide whether to see a GP, care for yourself at home or go to emergency. For an interpreter, call TIS on 131 450 first and ask to be connected⁵
Poisons advice: Poisons Information Centre 131 126 (13 11 26), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in Australia. Call if you suspect someone has swallowed medicine by mistake, taken the wrong medicine or been poisoned⁶
Mental health crisis: Lifeline 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week⁶

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Anyone in Australia can call 000 in an emergency, whatever their status or visa.
Call 000 when someone is seriously injured or needs urgent medical help, when life or property is in immediate danger, or when you have just witnessed a serious accident or crime.
Call 106 only if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment and are using a TTY. 106 does not work from ordinary mobiles, landlines or SMS.
For non-urgent matters that do not need police right away (for example, discovering a theft afterwards), call 131 444 or report online on your state police website.
If you are not sure whether something is an emergency, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 and let a nurse assess it.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Get to a safe place and dial 000
Stay calm and tell the operator whether you need police, fire or ambulance. You may first be asked which suburb, town and state you are in.
Say exactly where you are
Give the street number and street name, the nearest cross street or landmark, and the suburb. In rural areas, give the full address and how far you are from a landmark or road. In a car, say which direction you are travelling and the last exit or town you passed.
If you do not speak English, say the name of your language
First say police, fire or ambulance, then say the name of your language in English (for example Hindi, Nepali or Punjabi), and do not hang up; wait for the translator to join. The official advice is to call from a landline if you do not speak English.
Stay on the line and follow the operator's instructions
Answer the questions slowly and clearly, and do not hang up until the operator tells you to. They may ask you to wait at an agreed place so the emergency crew can find you.
If the call does not connect
On a mobile, if there is no answer within 5 seconds the first time, hang up and redial; after that, wait up to 60 seconds each time so the phone can borrow another network. If the screen shows No service, there is no network at all nearby. Try a landline or a public phone, or connect to Wi-Fi and use Wi-Fi calling.
Use other numbers for non-emergencies
Police non-emergency 131 444 (check your state police website to see whether it applies in your state), floods and storms SES 132 500, information about a crime Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000, health questions healthdirect 1800 022 222, poisoning 13 11 26, mental health crisis Lifeline 13 11 14.

What should I watch out for?

Install the Emergency+ app in advance so you can read out the location shown in the app when you call 000.
When you call 000 from a landline, the address registered with your phone company is shown to the operator automatically, so make sure your provider has your correct address.
Do not avoid calling 000 because of your English. Say which service you need, then say the name of your language, and wait.
Police, fire and ambulance services are run by each state and territory government. Whether ambulance is charged differs by state, so check your own state's website.
For non-urgent police matters you can call TIS on 131 450, ask for an interpreter and be connected to the police non-emergency line (Victoria Police, for example). In other states, check your local police website.
Numbers from other countries, such as 911, do not work in Australia and are not transferred. Remember only 000 (or 112 from a mobile).
This page is a plain-English summary of public information. In an emergency, follow the 000 operator's instructions.

Common questions

What number do I call for the police in Australia? Is it also 000 for an ambulance?

Yes, 000 (Triple Zero) is the one number for police, fire and ambulance. When the call connects, say which service you need. Use it when someone is seriously injured, life or property is in danger, or you have just seen a serious accident or crime. From a mobile you can also dial 112, which reaches the same service. For non-urgent police matters, call 131 444.

Does calling 000 cost money? Can I call without mobile signal?

No, 000 is free from landlines, mobiles, satellite phones and some VoIP services. If your own network has no signal, your mobile automatically borrows another network: if the first attempt does not connect within 5 seconds, hang up and redial, then wait up to 60 seconds each time. If no carrier has coverage (the screen shows No service), the call cannot connect, so try a landline, a public phone or Wi-Fi calling. 000 does not accept SMS.

My English is limited. Can I get an interpreter when I call 000?

Yes. Say police, fire or ambulance first, then say the name of your language in English, and stay on the line until a translator joins. The official advice is to call from a landline if you do not speak English. Do not avoid calling 000 because of your English.

What is the difference between 112 and 000?

112 is the international emergency number. It works from mobiles only and reaches the same service as 000, with no extra priority. It needs no SIM card or unlock code, but you must have mobile coverage, and it does not work from landlines or satellite phones. In Australia, remember 000 (or 112 from a mobile). Numbers such as 911 do not work and are not transferred.

My car was stolen or my house was burgled, but it's over now. Which number do I call?

For matters that do not need police right away, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 (check your state police website to see whether it applies in your state), or report online on your state police website. To give information about a crime, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. For an interpreter, call TIS on 131 450 and ask to be connected to the police non-emergency line.

A storm damaged my roof or my house is flooding. Who do I call?

Call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500, which handles floods, storms and tsunami. The Emergency+ app can also dial SES directly. If someone is injured or life is in danger, call 000.

My child swallowed medicine or dishwashing liquid. What number do I call?

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (131 126). It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in Australia, for suspected poisoning or when someone has swallowed medicine by mistake or taken the wrong medicine. If life is in danger, call 000 or go to the emergency department.

It's the middle of the night and I'm not sure whether to go to emergency. Who can I ask?

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222. It is free (calls from mobiles may cost), open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a registered nurse helps you decide whether to see a GP, care for yourself at home or go to emergency. For an interpreter, call TIS on 131 450 first and ask to be connected. If life is in danger, call 000.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Triple ZeroDepartment of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts · infrastructure.gov.au
How to call Triple Zero (000)Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts · infrastructure.gov.au
Using other emergency numbersDepartment of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts · infrastructure.gov.au
Emergency+ Smartphone AppTasmania Police · police.tas.gov.au
How healthdirect can help youhealthdirect Australia · healthdirect.gov.au
Crisis support for parenting and childrenDepartment of Social Services · dss.gov.au

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