On Monday 27 July 2026 at 1:30pm the Australian Government tested its new emergency warning system, AusAlert. A test alert was sent to all mobile devices in Australia. This includes most phones, and some smart watches and tablets.
94% of mobile cells in Australia successfully broadcast the test alert – this was above the target for the national test. If you didn’t receive a test alert, this does not mean the test was unsuccessful. Your device might not be compatible with AusAlert, or your devices may not have the latest software update. It is also possible your mobile device was not connected to a mobile network at the time of the test. If you want to give feedback, you can fill in the form.
On 1 October 2026, AusAlert will become a vital part of Australia’s emergency warning systems.
AusAlert lets the Australian Government and emergency services organisations send alerts to compatible mobile devices.
During the AusAlert :
- a message will appear on your screen
- you will hear a loud siren sound for about 10 second
Text alert on the screen may contain information such as:- the type of emergency (for example, bushfire or flood)
- where it is
- how serious it is
- the actions you need to take
- where more information can be found
- the name of the organisation that sent the message.For more details please check the official website: https://www.ausalert.gov.au/receiving-an-alert
AusAlert and accessibility
People with disabilities may face different challenges in an emergency.
More details about extra support are available here.
Why you can trust AusAlert
AusAlert is run by the Australian Government and is safe and secure.
Only authorised emergency services organisations and the Australian Government can send AusAlerts.
AusAlert:
- will never ask for your personal or financial details
- does not know or store your personal information
- does not know or store your phone number
- does not track your location
- does not require you to sign up or download an app.
If you receive anything that seems suspicious, you can report it to ScamWatch
