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A new national public information and emergency warnings system is being introduced by the Australian Government.
‘AusAlert’ is designed to send important safety messages directly to mobile devices (such as phones, tablets, and smart watches) during emergencies. It will be used by emergency services to warn the community about serious situations such as severe weather or other threats to safety.
AusAlerts will include the following information:
AusAlert will officially come into effect by October 2026.
The clear message for all Australians is that if you receive an AusAlert, you must give it your attention and follow its direction.
As part of this rollout, there will be a national test on Monday 27 July 2026 at 2pm. This means all Australians will receive a critical alert message on their mobile devices – it will activate even if your phone is switched to silent or on ‘do not disturb’ mode.
The critical alert is the highest level of warning and will sound for 10.5 seconds, in addition to a vibration and potentially a flashing light. The noise is a unique siren and it is not possible to opt out of receiving critical alerts.
The following devices commonly used by children and teenagers will receive an alert:
Given the AusAlert test on July 27 will occur during school hours, it is important that all staff, students, parents and carers are prepared. Parents and students do not need to take any action, just be aware that the test is happening.
It is recommended that students turn their phones off and keep them in their locker during testing time.
There are plenty of clear resources available. If you’d like to find out more information, please visit Children & teens | ausalert
The College will provide another update closer to the time of the AusAlert national test date in July.
