Emergency phone numbers for Triple Zero — police, fire, ambulance — and other types of emergencies.
Triple zero (000)
When you call Triple Zero (000):
- respond to the operator's question, do you want 'Emergency. police, fire, ambulance'
- stay calm, don't shout, speak slowly, and clearly
- say exactly where to come - give an address or location.
When to call
Examples of when to call:
- someone is seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help
- your life or property is being threatened
- you have just witnessed a serious accident or crime.
When not to call
If a situation is not urgent, you should look up the number of your local police, fire, or ambulance service.
Call charges
Triple Zero (000) calls are free from any kind of phone.
Making calls during a major emergency
Find out what to do in a major event like a severe bushfire or storm if you have trouble making phone calls.
9-1-1
You cannot call 911. This number is used by emergency services in the United States and can’t be used to call emergency services in Australia.
On this page
Unable to speak to the operator
You can still receive emergency help if it is not safe to speak, or you cannot speak.
When a Triple Zero (000) caller doesn’t respond to the operator's question 'Emergency. police, fire, ambulance?' the call is transferred to an interactive voice response (IVR). The IVR asks you to press '55' if you require emergency help. If you don’t press '55' after being asked 3 times, your call will be disconnected.
If you press '55' you will be connected to the police. If you are still unable to speak, the police will attempt to call you back and might also send a patrol car to your address.
Police will use the address for the service (which would usually be either your home or billing address). This means it is important to make sure that your telco has the most up-to-date address details for your phone services.
If you are calling from a mobile service and are not at your service address, police will try to locate you and respond to your request. But this may not always be possible without an address or accurate location information. If you can speak and provide your location, you should do so. This will ensure police can respond quickly.
Advanced mobile location (AML) technology, which can provide latitude and longitude coordinates of the mobile handset location, is available on select Apple IOS (and Watch OS GPS + Cellular) and Android devices. This helps to locate callers who are not calling from their service address.
For more information on AML and to check if your phone is AML-capable, visit the Triple Zero website.
Speech or hearing impairment
If you have a speech or hearing impairment Teletype '106'.
More information - One Zero Six (106) text based service.
Difficulty speaking English
Triple Zero does not have translators. If you can’t speak any English, your call will be transferred to the police. Once connected, a translator will be arranged.
If you can say ‘police’, ‘fire’, or ‘ambulance’, you will be transferred to the service you requested.
More information - Triple zero information in other languages.
Types of phones you can use
You can call Triple Zero (000) from any fixed or mobile phone, pay phones and certain VoIP (voice over internet protocol) and satellite services.
You can also call Triple Zero (000) from any 'handheld' satellite phone.
You can call Triple Zero (000) using the Emergency+ app on your smartphone. One advantage of using the Emergency+ app to call 000 is that if you don’t know your exact location, the app will use the GPS on your smartphone to help you to give emergency services your location.
The Emergency+ app is available to download free of charge from the Google Play store and Apple App store.
You can call Triple Zero (000) without having to unlock the keypad or key in a PIN on your mobile phone.
How to give your location
From a fixed-line phone
The address details for the fixed-line will automatically appear on the operator’s screen and be given to the emergency service organisation you requested.
From a mobile or VoIP (call from a computer) service
The operator will ask you for the town and state you are calling from. This is because you may not be at your home or billing address.
Use the Emergency+ app
The Emergency+ app can help you if you don’t know your exact location when you call 000.
When you open the Emergency+ app, you’ll see a series of icons for different emergency services in your area. Tap on the relevant icon for your emergency; you’ll get connected to a Triple Zero (000) call taker. When they ask for your location, read out the 3 words displayed at the bottom of your screen in the ‘My Location’ section. Help will then be sent to that exact what3words location.
How it works - what3words.
Numbers to call for types of emergencies
Ambulance
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000) and ask for 'ambulance'.
For health advice:
- contact a healthdirect registered nurse, available 24/7 - phone 1800 022 222
- use healthdirect's online symptom checker
- find your nearest health service provider eg GP, or emergency hospital department.
Animal disease
Report illegal activity or suspected sightings of pests or diseases.
Department of Primary Industries and Regions
Phone hotlines are provided by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA):
- Emergency management — for urgent animal issues that cannot be dealt with VET or community services —1800 255 556
- Emergency Animal Disease Hotline - suspected disease or pests in livestock, poultry, or aquatic animals must be reported immediately - 1800 675 888
- Fishwatch Hotline for information about rules and regulations, licensing and registration, and reporting shark sightings - 1800 065 522
- Recovery Hotline - If you are living with drought or affected by emergency events - 1800 931 314.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Japanese encephalitis virus is a nationally notifiable disease which means if you suspect an animal is showing signs of the disease, you must report it.
You can do this by contacting your local veterinarian or calling the national Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (this will put you in touch with PIRSA).
Boat and marine
If you need a Volunteer Marine Rescue response:
- call police on Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or 131 444 for police assistance, or
- if on coastal waters use the VHF Coastal Radio Network.
For diving emergencies, members of the Divers Alert Network (DAN) can call their emergency hotline on 1800 088 200.
Report jetty damage, navigation, or beacon faults to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport Traffic Management Centre on 1800 018 313.
Report marine oil or chemical spills - 8248 3505.
More information:
Crime
Dangerous or life-threatening situations call Triple Zero (000) and ask for 'police'. For police assistance call 131 444.
Crime Stoppers SA — report crime anonymously — if you have information that may help solve a crime or about criminal activity:
- phone 1800 333 000
- make a report online.
Electricity
Dangerous or life-threatening situations - Triple Zero (000).
Contact SA Power Networks to report an emergency or hazard - phone 13 13 66.
More information - Electricity outages.
Fire
For all fires, including bushfires and housefires emergencies call Triple Zero (000) and ask for 'fire'.
Phone the Country Fire Service (CFS) Bushfire Information Hotline on 1800 362 361 or TTY (teletypewriter or textphone) on 13 16 77 for information on:
- fire danger ratings
- fire restrictions
- fire bans
- incidents
- information relating to bushfire survival.
Flood and storm
For dangerous or life-threatening situations call Triple Zero (000) and ask for 'police'.
For emergency help in flood and storm call the SES on 132 500 for assistance, including for:- serious damage to a home
- property at risk of flooding
- tree has fallen on a car or home.
Gas
Gas leaks - 1800 GAS LEAK 1800 427 532 and Triple Zero (000).
More information - Report a gas leak.
Health and medical
In emergencies call Triple Zero (000) and ask for 'ambulance'.
healthdirect - health advice:
- use the symptom checker including for food poisoning
- get free health advice from trained clinicians 24/7 - 1800 022 222.
SA Health:
- Mental health emergencies phone 13 14 65 or find mental health services in your area
- Poisons information - Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.
More information - Health emergencies.
Marine oil spills
Missing persons
If you have information on the possible whereabouts of a missing person contact:
- Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the Crime Stoppers website
- your local police station
- National Missing Persons Coordination Centre call 1800 000 634
- South Australia Police Missing Persons Investigation Section call 8172 5467.
Overseas assistance
The Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra provides 24-hour support for Australians with serious and urgent needs. It is also for the friends and family of Australians overseas:
- 1300 555 135 (within Australia)
- +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas).
More information - Smartraveller - urgent help.
Plant disease
Report illegal activity or suspected sightings of pests or diseases.
Telephone hotlines are provided by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA):
- Emergency management - for urgent agricultural issues -1800 255 556
- Exotic Plant Pest Hotline - report suspected plant diseases, exotic pests, or noxious weeds - 1800 084 881
- Fruit Fly Hotline - 1300 666 010.
Police
Emergency situations - Triple Zero (000).
Non-urgent assistance- 131 444.
Pollution and environment
Phone the EPA 24/7 hotline:
- metropolitan - phone 8204 2004
- non-metropolitan - phone 1800 623 445.
For non-emergency incidents complete the EPA report an incident form.
Report suspicious activity
Report anything that doesn't seem right to:
- Crime Stoppers - 1800 333 000
- National Security Hotline - 1800 123 400
- South Australia Police - 131 444.
More information - Terrorism.
Roads and traffic
Accidents where there is a fire or the need for medical assistance - Triple Zero (000).
Accidents resulting in a traffic hazard, including road oil and petrol spills - SA Police on 131 444.
Major arterial roads (dangerous conditions, road hazards, and signal faults) - Traffic Management Centre on 1800 018 313.
Local council roads (dangerous conditions, road hazards) - the local council.
More information - Report road hazards and faults.
Scams
Victim of an online scam:
- banking - contact your bank
- identity theft phone IDCARE on 1800 595 160
- make a report on the Australian Government's ReportCyber website.
More information - Cyber security - online scam help.
Schools
Phone - 1800 000 279
This hotline is available during business hours. A monitored messaging service is available outside of these times.
Tree or branch has fallen
Caused damage to a house -SES on 132 500.
Damaged powerlines -SA Power Networks on 131 366.
Fallen on a vehicle - SES on 132 500.
On local roads, footpaths, and parks - the local council.
Water
More information - Water and sewerage.
Weather
Storm or flood response - SES on 132 500.
