About emergency services

Introduction

This section has information about the key emergency service organisations operating in the Northern Territory. 

For information about volunteering with these organisations read volunteering: cyclones, fire and disasters.


Ambulance

St John provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services to the community.

Emergency ambulance crews are based in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

The organisation employs more than 200 full-time staff and has more than 400 volunteers. St John also provides:

  • first-aid training
  • first-aid kits
  • first aid at community and public events
  • help during national disasters through volunteers
  • community care services for the aged, infirm and immobile.

Contact

In an emergency call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

If it's not an emergency, call 131 444 or 1300 360 455.

To find out more, visit the St John NT website.


Fire and emergency

The Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service is the main provider of fire, rescue and other emergency services in the NT.

The service has staff working in Alice Springs, Darwin, Jabiru, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Yulara, as well as part-time workers and auxiliary or supporting staff.

Work undertaken by the service includes:

  • helping at road accidents
  • cleaning up chemical spills
  • helping at industrial accidents
  • putting out structure fires
  • putting out grass and bushfires*
  • investigating the cause of fire
  • building and plan inspections
  • teaching people about fire safety.

*Bushfires outside of emergency response areas are managed by Bushfires NT.

There are also many behind-the-scenes staff that provide services including:

  • strategic planning
  • fire safety
  • hazard abatement
  • community education
  • fire investigation
  • fire alarm monitoring
  • firefighter training
  • operations support and administration.

To find out more, go to the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service website.


NT Emergency Service

The Northern Territory Emergency Service is a division of Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.

The Emergency Service has 19 employees and more than 300 volunteers who provide an emergency response across the NT.

They are headquartered in Berrimah, Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

The service plans for emergencies, educates the community about potential disasters, and responds to disasters and emergencies.

Find out more on the Northern Territory Emergency Service website.

Read about how you can volunteer with the service.


Police

The Northern Territory Police is the main law enforcement agency in the Territory.

As well as police stations in major centres, there are more than 50 stations in remote areas.

NT police provide services including:

  • community education
  • road safety
  • youth programs
  • firearm and weapons licences.

Contact

In an emergency call 000 and ask for police.

If it’s not an emergency, call 131 444 to speak to an operator.

If you have information that may help solve a crime, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can also report a crime at the Crime Stoppers NT website.

Go to the NT police website to find out more or use the contact details listed below.

Police Headquarters
6th Floor
NAB House
71 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800

PO Box 39764
Winnellie NT 0821


Surf Life Saving NT

Surf Life Saving Northern Territory is a volunteer-based organisation and the peak body for surf lifesaving in the Territory.

In addition to surf lifesaving and lifeguard roles, Surf Life Saving develops sports programs and manages education and training services.

Contact

To find out more about Surf Life Saving Northern Territory call (08) 8985 6588 or email surf@lifesavingnt.com.au.

To read more go to the Surf Life Saving Northern Territory web site.


Volunteer coast guard

The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard is a not-for-profit national organisation that assists the Northern Territory (NT) water police in search and rescue.

Volunteer coast guards aim to do the following:

  • promote safety in boating
  • help protect lives and property
  • assist people involved in accidents
  • provide training to members and the public.

They carry out all of the following operations along the coastline and in waterways:

  • radio monitoring on VHF channel 72 and the VHF emergency channel 16
  • safety patrols
  • vessel assistance
  • vessel tracking
  • search and rescue.

For more information go to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard website.

Contact

In an emergency, contact the duty skipper on 0467 362 991.

The Volunteer Coast Guard station in Darwin is called Flotillas Northern Territory (NTF1).

NTF1 Coast Guard Darwin
Darwin Trailer Boat Club - every Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm
Fannie Bay NT

PO Box 285
Parap NT 0820

To find out how to become a volunteer contact the NTF1 Flotilla Commander on 0467 362 991 or email fc.ntf1@coastguard.com.au.

For more information go to the Flotillas Northern Territory page on the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard website.