Emergencies

Calling 000

Calling 000 is the quickest way to get the right emergency service to help you.

In an emergency, calling 000 can be the difference between life and death.

When to call 000

You should call 000 in any of the following situations:

  • a life is threatened
  • a vehicle accident where people are injured
  • an air, rail or water accident
  • any event that may cause danger to people or property
  • an explosion
  • a bomb or threat
  • a disturbance or breach of the peace - such as a domestic violence incident or anti-social behaviour
  • a crime is happening or has been committed.

You should call 131 444 for all non-urgent incidents to talk to a police operator.

What happens when you call 000

When you call 000 you should follow these steps: 

Step 1. You will hear this message: ‘You have dialled emergency triple zero. Your call is being connected.'
Step 2. An operator will say: 'Emergency. Which service do you require - police, fire or ambulance?'
Step 3. You will be connected to either the police, fire or ambulance.
Step 4. You should stay calm and not hang up until you have spoken to the police, fire or ambulance.

If you ask for an ambulance

If you call for an ambulance on 000, the operator may ask you any of the following:

  • the address of the place the ambulance needs to go
  • what the problem is
  • how many people are injured
  • the person's age
  • the person's gender
  • if the person is conscious
  • if the person is breathing.

Do not hang up until the operator tells you to. You may need to hold the line until an ambulance arrives.

For more information go to the triple zero (000) page at the Australian Government's Department of the Attorney-General website.

To get information for children, go to the Triple Zero Kids' Challenge website.

Contact an emergency service

Common phone numbers for use in an emergency are listed below.

Ambulance

For emergency ambulance attendance, call 000.

For general enquiries, call 1300 360 455.

Community safety

Use the following phone numbers for information about or to report a safety issue.

Exotic animal diseases

Call the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.

Weeds or exotic plants

Call the exotic plant pest hotline on 1800 084 881.

Urgent pollution incidents

Call the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority Pollution hotline on 1800 064 567.

Marine safety

Call the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics on 08 8924 7100.

Rail safety

Call the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics on 08 8924 7209.

Electricity, water or gas emergency

You should contact Power and Water if you have an emergency with your electricity, water or sewerage.

In an emergency only, call 1800 245 090.

To check for underground services before drilling or digging on a property, call Dial Before You Dig on 1100 or Power and Water on 1800 245 092.

NT Fire and Rescue Service

For emergency firefighter attendance, call 000.

For general enquiries in the northern NT, call 08 8946 4107.

For general enquiries in the southern NT, call 08 8951 6688.

For after-hours enquiries, call 08 8922 1555.

National Relay Service

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can contact the police, fire or ambulance through the National Relay Service on any of the following:

  • TTY call 106
  • speak and listen call 1800 555 727
  • internet relay and ask for Triple Zero (000).

NT Emergency Service

For life threatening emergencies, call 000.

For 24-hour assistance during floods, storms and cyclones, call 132 500.

For general enquiries in the northern region, call 08 8922 3630.

For general enquiries in the southern region, call 08 8951 9300.

Police

For emergency police attendance, call 000.

For police assistance, call 131 444.

For other police contacts, specialist units or remote station contact details, go to the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services website.

Crisis and support helplines

If you need help or support, find a service best suited to your needs below.

In an emergency, you should call 000.

Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)

Phone: 1800 131 350

Read more on alcohol and drug rehabilitation services.

Beyond Blue

Phone: 1300 224 636
beyondblue.org.au

Child protection hotline

Phone: 1800 700 250

For more information, go to the Territory Families website.

Environmental Health

For more information, go to the Department of Health website.

Family Drug Support Australia

Phone: 1300 368 186
fds.org.au

Gambling Help Online

Phone: 1800 858 858
gamblinghelponline.org.au

headspace

For more information, go to the headspace website.

Healthdirect Australia

Phone 1800 022 222
healthdirect.gov.au

Interpreting and Translating Service NT (ITSNT)

Phone: 08 8999 8506

Read more on Interpreting and Translating Service NT.

Kids Helpline

Phone: 1800 551 800
kidshelpline.com.au

Lifeline

Phone: 131 114
lifeline.org.au

MensLine Australia

Phone: 1300 789 978
mensline.org.au

National Debt Helpline

NT Food Safety Hotline

Phone: 1800 095 646

Read more on food poisoning.

NT Mental Health Line

Phone: 1800 682 288

Read more on 24 hour mental health hotlines.

NT Police

Phone: 131 444

For more information, go to the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services website.

Office of Disability

Phone: 08 8999 2809

For more information, go to the Department of Health website.

Parentline

Phone: 1300 301 300
parentline.com.au

Poisons Information Centre

Phone: 131 126

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health website.

Quitline

Phone: 137 848

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health website.

Refugee and Migrant Settlement Services (RAMSS)

Phone: 08 8946 4800

For more information, go to the AnglicareNT website.

Ruby Gaea Darwin Centre Against Sexual Violence

Phone: 08 8945 0155

Find them on Facebook.

Sexual assault referral centres

Read more on sexual assault referral centres.

Victims of Crime NT

Phone: 1800 672 242
victimsofcrime.org.au

1800 RESPECT (sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service)

Phone: 1800 737 732
1800respect.org.au

Emergency accommodation

For a directory of services for homeless Territorians, go to the ShelterMe website.

If you need emergency accommodation during a cyclone or other disaster, go to the Secure NT website.

To get long-term accommodation for low income earners of all ages, read public housing.

Emergency financial aid

You can find emergency financial aid services on the Northern Territory Government’s ShelterMe website.

On the website you can find out about issues including:

  • how to get financial assistance
  • how to deal with a financial crisis
  • how to get food or meals in a crisis or emergency
  • how to get emergency housing or support.

Go to the Secure NT website to read about financial help for residents in a natural disaster.

First aid

You should have a first-aid kit at home and also learn how to do first aid through an accredited trainer.

First-aid training

St John provides accredited first-aid training.

To book training online go to the St John NT website.

St John also provides first-aid kits, defibrillators and specialist first-aid equipment.

About first-aid training at St John

St John first-aid training courses cover the following subject areas: 

  • first aid
  • advanced first aid
  • cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • advanced resuscitation
  • occupational first-aid skill set
  • first aid at remote stations
  • basic emergency life support
  • emergency management of asthma
  • caring for kids
  • junior first-aid program
  • first at the scene
  • industrial medic response program
  • management of anaphylaxis
  • low voltage electric shock rescue.

What to keep in your first-aid kit

If you want to stock your own first-aid kit, it should contain the items listed below.

Bandages, dressings and bindings

  • 1 packet of plastic strips
  • 1 roll of non-allergenic tape
  • 2 sterile eye pads
  • 4 triangular bandages
  • 1 conforming gauze bandage (10cm)
  • 1 conforming gauze bandage (7.5cm)
  • 1 conforming gauze bandage (5cm)
  • 1 hospital crepe bandage (10cm)
  • 1 sterile combine dressing (9cm x 10cm)
  • 1 sterile combine dressing (20cm x 20cm)
  • 1 medium wound dressing (No. 14)
  • 2 non-adhesive dressings (5cm x 7.5cm)
  • 1 non-adhesive dressing (10cm x 7.5cm)
  • 2 square gauze swabs
  • 5 alcohol swabs
  • 1 wound-closure steri-strip

Tools

  • 1 pair stainless steel scissors
  • 1 pair of forceps
  • 1 stainless steel splinter remover

Other essentials

  • 1 pack (10 pairs) of latex gloves
  • 1 resuscitation mask
  • 2 bottles of eye irrigation (15 millilitres)
  • 1 bottle of antiseptic cream (50g)
  • 1 bottle of antiseptic solution (30 millilitres)
  • 1 first-aid hints booklet.

Teach your child to call 000

Children as young as three have been able to save their parents in an emergency by calling 000 and providing vital information, such as a name and address.

It is important that your child knows what to expect and how to answer questions asked by the emergency operator.  

Play the 000 game

Playing the 000 game is a good way to introduce your children to emergencies and what to do in those situations. To play the game go to the Triple Zero Kids' Challenge website.

It is also important to stress to your children that:

  • they should not give out their telephone number to strangers - only to an authorised person, such as when calling 000
  • 000 is a number used in emergencies and should only be used if there is no adult available to make the call.

Talk to your child about emergencies

Talk to your child about what an emergency is and make a list of the answers.

Using the list of emergencies, have your child say who they would ask for in each example - either police, fire or ambulance.

Practice using the phone

Show your child how to use the phone correctly, for example, how to listen for a dial tone before dialling.

Remind your child about the danger of making a joke or hoax call and state that this is not allowed and that you will get into a great deal of trouble when caught.

Explain to your child that when you call 000 the operator will ask you some questions.

Teach your child their name, address and phone number if possible.

Role-play a 000 situation

Role-play with another adult, with one of you being the operator and the other being a child ringing 000. Show the importance of staying calm and speaking clearly to be understood.

Australian Warning System

The Australian Warning System (AWS) helps you stay safe and recognise emergency alerts.

It is a national system that provides information and warnings for hazards like:

  • bushfires
  • extreme heat
  • floods
  • cyclones
  • storms.

The AWS delivers consistent messages so you know what to do when you see an alert.

It’s important that everyone knows and understands the new system.

If you run a business, it is important that you update your workplace cyclone plan accordingly.

AWS icons and warning levels

The AWS has a nationally consistent set of recognisable icons for each hazard and 3 levels of warning:

  • yellow - advice: stay up to date
  • orange - watch and act: conditions are changing - start taking action
  • red - emergency warning: act immediately.
HazardAdvice Watch and act Emergency warning

Cyclone

Cyclone warning level 1 yellowCyclone warning level 2 orange  Cyclone warning level 3 red 
Fire Fire warning level 1 yellow  Fire warning level 2 orange  Fire warning level 3 red 
Flood Flood level warning level 1 yellow  Flood level warning level 2 orange  Flood level warning level 3 red 

Storm

Severe weather warning level 1 yellow  Severe weather warning level 2 orange  Severe weather warning level 3 red 

Extreme heat

Extreme heat level 1 yellow  Extreme heat level 2 orange  Extreme heat level 3 red 
Other Other warning level 1 yellowOther warning level 2 orangeOther warning level 3 red

For more information about the AWS icons and warning levels, go to the AWS website.

Warning signal

The Standard Emergency Warning Signal is a siren that is used with the AWS at the emergency level when immediate action must be taken.

The siren may be played live or used on:

  • radio
  • TV
  • social media.

Only the NT Emergency Service director, Bureau of Meteorology NT regional director or their delegates can authorise the siren.

When you hear the siren, you should pay immediate attention. Listen to the announcement and follow any instructions given.

Voice or message alerts

Emergency Alert is the national telephone warning system used by emergency services to:

  • send voice messages to land lines
  • text messages to mobile phones.

It is used to notify those affected by potential emergencies.

In the NT, Emergency Alert is administered by NT Emergency Service.

For more information, go to the Emergency Alert website.

Fire danger ratings

The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) is used nationally.

Fire danger ratings describe the potential danger level of a bushfire. They provide the community with information to take action and protect themselves and others from fire hazards.

Fire danger ratings are used to communicate the consequences of a fire, if one was to start. On days when there is minimal risk, ‘no rating’ will be used.

Fire danger rating

For more information, go to the Australian Fire Danger Rating System website.

Fire ban days

Fire bans are issued by the chief fire control officer and director, NT Fire and Rescue Service for specific areas when weather conditions indicate an increased fire risk.

Fire bans are generally issued for 24-hour periods and are communicated through local media and social media posts.

On fire ban days, no person shall light a fire or cause a fire to be lit in the open within the affected areas.

Read more about fire bans and fire danger periods.

Warnings outside the NT

Check the websites of each jurisdiction to find out how to stay informed during an emergency.

More information

For more information about:

  • current incidents and information about how to prepare for an emergency, go to SecureNT
  • weather information and warnings, go to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Contact

For more information, email ntes@pfes.nt.gov.au.

Alice Springs emergency declaration

The Northern Territory (NT) Government declared an emergency situation in Alice Springs on 27 March 2024.

This included a curfew in the high risk area (HRA) for people under the age of 18 years.

On 9 April 2024, the declaration was further extended until 6am on Tuesday 16 April 2024.

Dates and hours in effect

Wednesday 27 March to Tuesday 16 April 2024 from 6pm to 6am.

Who it affected

The curfew applied to people under the age of 18 years and in the HRA between 6pm and 6am without a valid reason.

Valid reasons included:

  • working as part of your employment
  • accessing a youth-related service
  • being with a responsible adult
  • having a medical emergency.
The HRA is shown in the map below indicated by the yellow outline.

Alice Springs CBD curfew map.

Get the Alice Springs HRA map JPG (442.9 KB).