New National Warning System AusAlert

The new national warning system AusAlert will be operational by October 2026. The system will send emergency warning messages to keep communities informed, so they can take actions to stay safe.

AusAlert was created in response to the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. It found that mobile-device-based emergency warning systems are especially effective at keeping communities informed during disasters.

AusAlert is for everyone in Australia. It sends information about local and national disasters, including what is happening now or what might happen soon.

AusAlert can help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities:

• prepare, understand, and coordinate response to emergencies such as bushfires, cyclones, and floods
• share information quickly with family and community members
• understand the seriousness of an emergency and when it might impact
• receive emergency communications in areas with limited network coverage
• support people who are travelling or away from home.

During a disaster, you may receive an alert if you have a compatible mobile phone, tablet, or smartwatch.

AusAlert messages will be sent to mobile phones and other devices about emergencies and disasters such as:

• security threats
• public health emergencies
• biosecurity incidents
• natural hazards like bushfires, floods, cyclones, and tsunamis.

AusAlert messages will only be sent to people within the area affected by the emergency.

Before AusAlert is ready to use, it will be tested in June in select local communities to make sure it works as intended. There will be a national test on Monday 27 July 2026. The test time will vary across Australian time zones.

Visit the ‘National test’ section of the AusAlert website to find the time in your location. You do not need to sign up for AusAlert. If your mobile device is compatible, you will receive a test alert.

All materials have been tailored to the following cohorts:

• First Nations Australians
• Domestic and family violence advocacy networks
• Older Australians
• People living with disability
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities
• Children and teens.

For more information visit Home | ausalert and for information tailored for First Nations communities visit First Nations | ausalert.