The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is delivering a new national emergency warning system alongside other government departments in response to the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
How will AusAlert work?
AusAlert is a national emergency warning system that will allow emergency services and some government agencies to send targeted warning messages to compatible mobile phones. It can target areas as small as 160m to target even specific buildings.
Certain Australian Government agencies and first responders will be able to send out alerts for a range of events including natural disasters, like bushfires, floods and cyclones, public safety incidents or terms as well as biosecurity and health emergencies such as animal or plant disease outbreaks or pandemics.
A message on the AusAlert system is designed to provide context such as:
- What kind of emergency it is
- Where the emergency is happening
- The severity of the event
- What action you need to take
- Who the message has come from
- Places to find more information
An AusAlert is not a text message and uses cell-broadcast technology to send a loud warning siren-like warning sound and vibration on your device. This means the alert will come through even if your phone is silenced or on do not disturb. It will also work even if you don't have an active SIM card.
If you enter an emergency area while it is unfolding you will receive the alert, you'll only receive further alerts if there is new information.
Critical alerts vs. priority alerts
AusAlert will have two different types of warnings — depending on the severity of the emergency.
Both will cause your device to vibrate and emit a siren-like warning for around 10 seconds which will bypass silent and do not disturb modes.
A critical alert is the highest warning, it means you may be in danger and should act immediately
A priority alert may be issued when there is a high level of threat, conditions may be changing rapidly and you should watch and act
You cannot opt out of receiving critical alerts but you can opt out of priority alerts.
When will AusAlert be launched?
AusAlert is still currently in the build phase but ready to go live this year. NEMA says the system will be technically ready in July and go live in October this year.
There will be a national test of AusAlert on Monday, July 27 2026. Every compatible device in Australia will receive a test alert via the AusAlert system.
Here's when the national AusAlert test will be conducted in each state and territory:
| State | Local test time |
|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 2:00pm AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| New South Wales | 2:00pm AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| Queensland | 2:00pm AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| Tasmania | 2:00pm AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| Victoria | 2:00pm AEST (UTC+10:00) |
| South Australia | 1:30pm ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| Northern Territory | 1:30pm ACST (UTC+9:30) |
| Western Australia | 12:00pm AWST (UTC+8:00) |
If the national test will make you unsafe you can make sure your device is turned off during the test or on aeroplane mode. Leave the device off for at least one hour after the test.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, 24/7 support is available at:
- 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732
- 13YARN on 13 92 76
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
Will AusAlert work with my phone?
AusAlert will work across a range of mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches. Again, the devices don't need an active SIM card or eSIM to receive alerts.
There isn't currently a full definitive list; however, AusAlert is expected to work on:
- iPhone 11 and up running iOS 26.4 or newer
- Apple Watch SE 2, SE 3, Series 6 and up, running watchOS 26.4 or newer
- Android devices running Android 12 or newer
Older Android phones and phones that don't use either iOS or Android may still get alerts. Apple iPads won't receive AusAlerts. NEMA intends for AusAlert to send automated voice messages to landlines as well in the future.
Can you turn off AusAlert?
There are a few ways you can control how some AusAlert messages are received on your device.
Critical Alerts cannot be turned off; however, you can turn your device off or put it on aeroplane mode during the emergency. This is not recommended, as AusAlerts are intended to convey important information.
While it's recommended to keep alerts turned on for your safety, you can turn off priority alerts if receiving one may disrupt you or cause you to feel unsafe. If you need to turn priority alerts off, you'll need to do it on each device.
- Open the Settings app
- Go to Notifications
- Scroll to AusAlert at the end of the page
- Turn off Priority AusAlert
- Open the Settings app
- Go to Safety and Emergency
- Go to Wireless Emergency Alerts
- Turn off Priority AusAlert
Depending on your device, AusAlerts may also be called:
- Severe alerts
- Extreme alerts
- Presidential alerts
- Emergency broadcasts
If you can't find the alert settings, check your device's user guide or contact the manufacturer.
How is AusAlert different from Triple Zero?
AusAlert is a new national warning system designed to let you know when an emergency is occurring. It is not a replacement for emergency services. If you are in a life-threatening situation, you call Triple Zero (000).
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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