If an emergency happened in your home today, would you or your children know who to call, which number to dial and what to say? โค๏ธ
Emergency preparedness isn’t always a priority for busy families. Between school drop-offs, work commitments, after-school activities and everything else that comes with raising children, it’s easy to put planning for the unexpected on the back burner.
But if your child suddenly becomes unwell, someone is injured, a storm damages your home or a babysitter needs to contact you urgently, knowing who to call can make a stressful situation that little bit easier to navigate.
The reality is that emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. You might be out, your phone battery might be flat, or the person caring for your children might not know which family member to contact first.
The good news? Getting prepared doesn’t have to be complicated.
Having a basic first aid kit, keeping important phone numbers somewhere easy to find and talking with your children about what to do in an emergency are simple, practical steps every family can take. A contact list on the fridge, for example, can help parents, older children, grandparents and babysitters find essential details without having to search through a phone.
It’s also important to remember that not every emergency requires the same response. A l
Why Every Family Needs an Emergency Contact Plan
Think about the people who regularly look after your children. Would a babysitter know what to do if your child had a serious allergic reaction? Could a grandparent find your GP’s number quickly? Would your child know how to tell an emergency operator where they live?
These aren’t questions intended to frighten parents. They’re simply worth considering before you need the answers.
A family emergency contact plan brings together the people, services and essential information you may need in a hurry. It can also reduce confusion when more than one adult is trying to help.
Your plan doesn’t need to be elaborate. Start with the most important telephone numbers, make sure the people who care for your children know where to find them, and review the details whenever something changes.
You don’t need to turn your home into an emergency command centre. Start with the people and services your family is most likely to need, then build your list from there. If your children spend time with grandparents, a babysitter or another carer, make sure those adults know where to find it, too.
The aim isn’t to predict every possible emergency. It’s to make the next step clearer when something unexpected happens.
Important Australian Emergency Numbers at a Glance
Keep these essential numbers accessible alongside your family’s personal contacts.
000 โ Triple Zero
For life-threatening or time-critical emergencies
Call Triple Zero for police, fire or ambulance assistance when a life is in danger or urgent emergency help is required. Tell the operator which service you need, explain where help is required, and stay on the line to answer questions.
Official resource: Triple Zero Australia
13 11 26 โ Poisons Information Centre
For suspected poisoning
Call for advice about suspected poisoning, including accidental exposure to medicines or household chemicals. If the person is unconscious, having seizures or struggling to breathe, call 000 immediately.
Official resource: Healthdirect Australia โ Swallowed substances
1800 022 222 โ Healthdirect Australia
For non-emergency health advice
Healthdirect provides free, 24-hour telephone health advice. In Victoria, the service is known as NURSE-ON-CALL. Call 000 instead when urgent emergency assistance is required.
Official resource: Healthdirect Australia
131 444 โ Victoria Police Assistance Line
For non-urgent police assistance in Victoria
Use this number for non-urgent police assistance. Call 000 if there is immediate danger or an urgent incident requiring police attendance. Other states and territories have their own arrangements.
Official resource: Victoria Police
132 500 โ Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES)
For eligible storm and flood assistance in Victoria
VICSES assists with eligible storm, flood and other incidents within its responsibilities. Call 000 if life is in danger. Families elsewhere in Australia should check their own state’s emergency service arrangements.
Official resource: Victoria State Emergency Service
These numbers are a starting point, not a substitute for a personalised family contact list. Save the official service websites as well, and check the details periodically.
The distinction between emergency and non-emergency services is particularly important for parents. Australian guidance recommends contacting the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for suspected poisoning, while someone who has collapsed, stopped breathing or is experiencing another life-threatening emergency needs Triple Zero (000). Knowing which service to contact can help you act without unnecessary delay.
1. Local Domestic Services (Electrical, Plumbing, etc.)
Electrical faults, plumbing problems and accidental lockouts are among the household issues families may need help resolving unexpectedly. Keeping the numbers of trusted local tradespeople accessible can make it easier to arrange repairs without searching for a provider under pressure.
If you have a preferred local emergency electrician, for instance, make sure other adults who care for your children know where to find the number. The same applies to a plumber, locksmith or other essential service provider.
It’s important to distinguish a household maintenance problem from an immediate safety hazard. A leaking tap may be a routine plumbing job, whereas a burst pipe near electrical equipment may require urgent action to keep people safe.
For electrical faults, gas leaks or other potentially dangerous situations, prioritise getting everyone to safety and contacting the appropriate emergency service or utility provider. Do not ask children to investigate faults, touch damaged equipment or attempt repairs themselves.
Families may also find it helpful to record the relevant electricity distributor’s fault number and gas distributor’s emergency number. These can differ depending on where you live, so use your provider’s official website to confirm the correct details.
A simple precaution: Know where the main water shut-off valve and electrical switchboard are located, and make sure responsible adults understand how to access them safely.
A practical tip: If you want to talk with your children about household safety, you can also explore our blog on the top reasons for tradie callouts for households with young children.
2. Local Hospital
No parent wants to receive a call saying their child has been taken to hospital unexpectedly. However, having the relevant hospital contact details readily available can help when you need to confirm information, make an enquiry or understand the next steps in a child’s care.
Record the contact details for your nearest suitable hospital, including its general enquiries number and, where relevant, information about its emergency department.
It is worth understanding the difference between hospital reception and emergency medical assistance. Reception staff are not a replacement for an emergency response, and a hospital’s general number may not connect you directly with the emergency department. If someone is seriously injured or experiencing a life-threatening medical problem, call 000 rather than trying to contact hospital reception first.
Your local council, hospital or community health service may offer printed health information or contact resources, but availability varies. You can also keep the details in a household emergency folder.
For families with children who have ongoing medical needs, consider recording the child’s treating specialist, relevant allergies and current medications in a separate, securely stored medical information sheet. Share this information with regular carers when they need it.
You can use Healthdirect Australia’s health service finder to locate health services and check which facilities are appropriate for your family’s needs.
3. Triple Zero (000)
If there’s one number every Australian family should know, it’s Triple Zero (000).
Triple Zero connects callers with police, fire or ambulance services for life-threatening or time-critical emergencies. Official Australian guidance recommends using the service when someone is seriously injured, needs urgent medical help, faces an immediate threat or requires an urgent emergency response.
It’s a number worth teaching children, too.
Australian emergency education resources describe children as young as four helping to obtain emergency assistance by calling Triple Zero. That doesn’t mean every child of that age will be ready to manage an emergency call independently. Children’s understanding, communication skills and confidence develop at different rates. The important thing is to begin age-appropriate conversations and practise the basics as they grow.
How to teach children to call 000
1. Recognise when someone needs urgent help
Use simple examples, such as an adult who has collapsed and cannot be woken, a serious accident or a dangerous fire.
2. Know where they are
Practise saying their home address and identifying familiar landmarks. Explain that emergency operators need to know where help should go.
3. Explain what has happened
Children can practise saying who needs help and what they can see. They do not need to know every answer before making the call.
4. Stay on the line and listen
Teach children to answer the operator’s questions, follow instructions and avoid hanging up until told they can do so.
The Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge is an Australian educational resource that helps children learn about emergency situations through age-appropriate activities. Parents and educators can use it to reinforce the basics without frightening children.
A crucial reminder: Never use 000 to request an electrician, report a routine plumbing problem or ask for general medical advice. Equally, do not delay an emergency call while trying to contact a parent, GP or another family member.
If a mobile phone cannot connect to any available mobile network, the emergency call may not go through. Families who live or travel in areas with limited coverage should consider this limitation when making their broader emergency plan.
4. Family GP
Your family GP is an important contact to keep close at hand, not only for routine appointments but also when you need advice about an unexpected health concern.
Keep your clinic’s main telephone number on the list, along with its opening hours and any after-hours arrangements. Some practices direct patients to an alternative service outside business hours, so it’s worth checking what your clinic recommends.
Make sure grandparents, babysitters and other regular carers know where to find this information. If your child has a medical condition, significant allergy or medication requirement, explain what the carer needs to know and where to find the relevant instructions.
When should you call your GP, Healthdirect or 000?
Knowing which service to contact can be just as important as having the number available.
- Your GP: For routine appointments, ongoing health concerns and appropriate medical follow-up.
- Healthdirect: For health advice when you’re unsure what to do and the situation is not a life-threatening emergency.
- Triple Zero (000): For life-threatening or time-critical medical emergencies.
Healthdirect provides free telephone health advice 24 hours a day on 1800 022 222. In Victoria, this service is known as NURSE-ON-CALL.
If your child appears seriously unwell, do not wait for a GP appointment or telephone advice before seeking emergency assistance.
5. Work Emergency Contacts (for All Parents and Guardians)
For families juggling work, school and childcare, knowing how to reach a parent or guardian during an unexpected situation can be reassuring.
If you regularly work away from home, travel for business or have periods when you cannot answer your mobile, consider recording your workplace’s main contact number and the details of an appropriate colleague who can help pass on an urgent message.
This information may be useful for older children, babysitters and other adults who care for your children. However, children should not be expected to manage an adult’s work arrangements or resolve an emergency on their own.
Instead, agree on a straightforward plan for situations in which a parent cannot be reached.
For example, who should the carer contact next? Is there another authorised adult who can collect the children? Where can the carer find the information needed to contact that person?
These arrangements are particularly helpful for shift workers, parents who travel frequently and families whose usual routines change from week to week.
Privacy matters, too. You generally only need to include the workplace details necessary to reach the relevant person. Avoid putting private mobile numbers or unnecessary personal information somewhere visitors or members of the public can see them.
6. School Emergency Contacts
When your children are at school, childcare or an after-school activity, you naturally want to know how to reach the people responsible for their care.
Keep the school’s main telephone number handy, along with the relevant contact details for childcare, outside-school-hours care, vacation care and other regular activities.
Where appropriate, record the school’s official communication channels and the arrangements it uses to notify parents about unexpected incidents, closures or changes to collection procedures.
Make sure your family knows the collection arrangements
It is worth confirming:
- Who is authorised to collect your child.
- What identification or authorisation the school requires.
- Which adult should be contacted if you cannot be reached.
- How the school communicates during an excursion or other off-site activity.
- What parents should do if an emergency affects school collection arrangements.
Keep the details recorded with the school up to date, particularly when phone numbers, custody arrangements or authorised collection contacts change.
If an incident occurs on school grounds, follow the school’s instructions and official emergency advice. During an evacuation, lockdown or other serious incident, avoid travelling into a potentially dangerous area or collecting your child in a way that could interfere with emergency responders.
A little preparation now can help everyone understand their role if plans change unexpectedly.
7. Animal Control Services
Even in a familiar neighbourhood, you may encounter an injured cat, an unrestrained dog or another animal that appears distressed or poses a risk.
In these situations, it is important to know who can help. Your local council may manage animal complaints, wandering animals and pound services, while a veterinarian is generally the appropriate contact for an animal requiring medical attention.
If you encounter an unfamiliar, aggressive or injured animal, keep children at a safe distance. Do not attempt to approach, corner or handle an animal that may bite or behave unpredictably.
If an animal presents an immediate threat to human safety, contact emergency services as appropriate rather than trying to manage the situation yourself.
If your family pet goes missing
For families with pets, the contact list should include your local council’s animal management service or pound, your veterinarian and the relevant microchip registry.
If your pet is found and taken to a pound, current registration and microchip details can help the responsible service contact you. However, you should not assume that a microchip automatically guarantees a successful reunion.
Check your pet’s microchip registration details whenever your phone number or address changes.
It is also worth keeping a recent photograph of your pet and noting any identifying features, medication requirements or health concerns.
Include pets in your emergency plan
If your family needs to leave home quickly because of a fire, flood or other emergency, your pets will need a plan, too.
Consider preparing:
- A suitable carrier, lead or harness.
- Essential medication and feeding instructions.
- A small supply of food and water.
- Veterinary contact details and relevant health records.
- Identification and current microchip information.
Australian emergency preparedness resources encourage households to consider their animals when planning for emergencies. You can find practical planning guidance through VICSES.
8. Council Emergency Contacts
Your local council can be an important source of information about community services, local hazards and certain after-hours problems.
Alongside routine council contact details, identify the appropriate number for animal management, dangerous public infrastructure and other local issues that may require urgent attention.
Keep in mind that council services are not a replacement for emergency services. If someone is in immediate danger, a serious fire is underway or urgent police, fire or ambulance assistance is needed, call 000.
It is also useful to keep your council’s official website bookmarked so you can check local emergency notices, service disruptions and instructions during severe weather or other community incidents.
Council arrangements differ across Australia. Some councils provide printed contact resources or fridge magnets, while others make this information available online. Rather than assuming a particular resource will be supplied, check your own council’s website or contact its customer service team.
What about severe weather and local emergencies?
Depending on where you live, your household plan may need to account for storms, flooding, bushfires, heatwaves or other local hazards.
Identify the official emergency information channels for your state or territory and understand how warnings are communicated. If your area is affected by an emergency, follow the directions issued by the relevant authorities.
For Victorian families, the Victoria State Emergency Service provides practical advice about preparing the home, planning for emergencies and knowing what to do when severe weather strikes. Other states and territories have their own emergency management agencies.
The most useful emergency number is one that connects you to the service responsible for the situation you’re facing.
9. Grandparents and Other Family Contacts
Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and other trusted relatives can be an important part of a family’s support network.
Although their numbers may already be stored in your phone, keeping a printed copy can be useful if your phone is unavailable, its battery is flat or another person needs to contact them on your behalf.
Choose at least two people who could be contacted if a parent or guardian cannot be reached. Ideally, they should be people who know your children, understand your family arrangements and have agreed to help when needed.
It is worth discussing the practical details in advance.
For example, can they collect the children from school if an unexpected delay occurs? Are they likely to be available during working hours? Do they know where to find important medical or childcare information?
Always obtain permission before adding someone else’s number to your family contact sheet, and explain what you may need their help with.
Children should also understand that an unfamiliar person claiming to be a relative or family friend should not automatically be trusted. Agree on authorised collection arrangements with your school or childcare service, and teach children to follow those arrangements.
10. Trusted Neighbours
A trusted neighbour can be a valuable addition to your family’s emergency contact list, particularly when relatives live further away.
Perhaps a neighbour has agreed to check on your home during a storm, help contact you if an unexpected problem occurs or provide assistance while you arrange for an authorised adult to collect your child.
The important thing is to establish these arrangements beforehand rather than assuming someone will be available when you need them.
Talk with your neighbour about what they are comfortable helping with, and make sure they have your permission to be listed as a contact.
It is also worth having a backup person in case your neighbour is away, working or otherwise unavailable.
Safety comes first for everyone. A neighbour should never be expected to enter a dangerous building, approach an aggressive person or put themselves at risk. Serious emergencies should be handled by the appropriate emergency services.
For families living in apartments or units, it may also be helpful to know the building manager’s or owners corporation’s contact details for relevant building issues, while keeping emergency service numbers readily accessible.
A reliable support network can provide reassurance, but it works best when everyone understands their role and its limits.
Other Important Emergency Numbers for Australian Families
The ten contacts above provide a useful starting point, but there are several other services that parents may want to add to their list.
You do not need to include every possible service. Think about your family’s circumstances, your children’s ages, any medical needs and the risks most relevant to where you live.
13 11 26 โ Poisons Information Centre
Accidental exposure to medicines, cleaning products, chemicals or other potentially poisonous substances can be frightening, especially when a young child is involved.
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice about a suspected poisoning. If the person is unconscious, having seizures, struggling to breathe or experiencing another life-threatening emergency, call 000 immediately.
Save the number in your phone and include it on your printed contact sheet.
Official resource: Healthdirect Australia โ Swallowed substances
1800 022 222 โ Healthdirect Australia
Healthdirect provides free health information and advice by telephone, 24 hours a day. It can be useful when a family member is unwell and you need guidance about the appropriate next step.
This is not an alternative to 000 when immediate emergency assistance is required.
Website: healthdirect.gov.au
Domestic and family violence support
Families experiencing domestic or family violence may need confidential support and safety planning. Australia’s 1800RESPECT service can be contacted on 1800 737 732.
Website: 1800respect.org.au
If someone is in immediate danger, call 000. A support service can help with planning and information, but it should not delay an urgent emergency call.
13 11 14 โ Lifeline
Lifeline offers crisis support for people experiencing emotional distress. Its telephone number is 13 11 14.
Website: lifeline.org.au
If a person is in immediate danger or needs urgent emergency assistance, call 000.
Your state or territory emergency service
Keep the official contact details for the emergency management service responsible for your area. In Victoria, VICSES can be contacted on 132 500 for eligible storm and flood assistance.
Website: ses.vic.gov.au
Always call 000 if life is in danger.
Keep this supplementary list relevant to your family. If a service is not appropriate for your location or circumstances, leave it off and record the correct local alternative.
How to Teach Children What to Do in an Emergency
As parents, we want our children to feel safe and know that adults are there to help them. Talking about emergencies can feel uncomfortable, but it doesn’t need to be frightening.
The key is to keep the conversation calm, practical and appropriate for your child’s age.
Younger children might begin by learning their full name, recognising a trusted adult and knowing where the family emergency contact list is kept. As they grow, they can practise explaining where they are, describing what has happened and understanding when to call 000.
The Australian Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge provides activities designed to help kindergarten and primary-school-aged children understand how to recognise an emergency and request assistance.
Here are a few ways to build these skills into everyday family life.
- Practise through simple scenarios. Ask what your child would do if a grown-up collapsed and could not wake up, or if they saw a dangerous fire.
- Help them learn their address. Practise saying the street name, suburb and house number when they are developmentally ready.
- Show them how to find the contact list. Explain what it is for and who can help them use it.
- Teach them to listen to emergency operators. They should answer questions as best they can and follow instructions.
- Reassure them that asking for help is the right thing to do. Children should never feel they will be in trouble for calling for genuine emergency assistance.
Keep practice sessions short and revisit the information occasionally. Children may need repeated opportunities to learn, and their ability to respond independently will depend on their age, communication skills and individual needs.
Never make a real call to 000 simply to practise. Use educational resources and pretend scenarios instead.
Preparing Babysitters, Grandparents and Other Carers
Leaving your child with someone you trust is much easier when you know they have the information they need.
Before a babysitter or other carer takes responsibility for your children, show them where the emergency contact list is kept and explain the arrangements for reaching you.
A simple handover should cover:
- Emergency numbers: Where to find 000, the GP, poisons advice and other relevant contacts.
- Medical information: Any significant allergies, essential medications and instructions the carer needs to know.
- Household safety: Emergency exits, smoke alarms and the location of the first aid kit.
- Contact arrangements: Who to call if you cannot be reached.
- Childcare and collection: Who is authorised to collect the children and what to do if plans change.
- Pets: Any relevant animal care instructions and veterinary contact details.
Make sure the carer understands that emergency assistance must never be delayed while trying to contact a parent.
If a child has specific medical or communication needs, explain the relevant arrangements before you leave. Written instructions can be particularly helpful when a carer is unfamiliar with the child’s routine.
What Should Be on Your Family Emergency Contact Sheet?
A contact list is most useful when it contains the details people actually need, rather than every number a household has ever collected.
The following template can help you organise the information in one place.
Family emergency contact template
Fill in the details you wish to organise, then copy the completed template for your own records. Avoid including unnecessary sensitive information on a sheet visible to visitors.
- Family or household name
- Home address
- Parent or guardian contact details
- Trusted backup contact
- Family GP
- School or childcare
- Veterinarian (if applicable)
Use this template as a starting point, then add any relevant local emergency service numbers and other contacts your family needs.
For a printed version, leave space for the date of the last review and any additional instructions that regular carers may need.
Protect your family’s privacy
Your emergency contact sheet may contain personal information, so think carefully about where you keep it.
A visible sheet can be useful for household members and carers, but it should not expose unnecessary medical information, private phone numbers or other sensitive details to visitors.
Consider keeping a basic contact list in an accessible location and storing more detailed medical information securely, sharing it only with people who need it.
What If Your Phone Is Flat, Lost or Unavailable?
Most of us rely on our mobile phones for almost everything, including emergency contacts. But what happens when your phone is out of battery, misplaced or unavailable?
This is where a printed emergency contact list can be useful.
Keep a copy somewhere accessible at home, and consider another copy in your household emergency kit. Make sure regular carers know where it is, too.
Families who spend time travelling, camping or visiting areas with limited mobile coverage should also consider how they would access help if ordinary mobile service were unavailable.
Triple Zero Australia explains that an emergency call from a mobile phone cannot connect if there is no coverage on any mobile network. Calling 112 instead does not overcome a complete lack of network coverage.
If your household uses a home telephone or internet-based phone service, check the limitations of that service and whether it supports emergency calls.
Don’t assume that a phone, internet connection or printed number will always be available. Think about the circumstances in which your family might need help and plan accordingly.
Preparing for Fires, Storms, Floods and Power Outages
Emergency contact numbers are just one part of household preparedness.
Depending on where you live, your family may also need to prepare for severe storms, flooding, bushfires, heatwaves or prolonged power outages.
A basic emergency plan should consider:
- How your family will receive official warnings and emergency instructions.
- Where you will go if you need to leave home.
- How family members will reconnect if separated.
- Essential medications and health information that need to accompany you.
- Food, water, torches and backup charging for situations in which essential services are disrupted.
- Pet supplies and transport arrangements if your animals need to leave with you.
- The needs of family members who require additional assistance, including children and people with disability.
For Victorian households, VICSES home emergency planning resources provide practical information about preparing for emergencies. Families elsewhere in Australia should consult their own state or territory emergency management authority.
It is also worth discussing the plan with children in a reassuring way. They should know what to do, where to go and which adults they can turn to without being made to feel that something terrible is about to happen.
Preparedness is about having a plan you can use, not living in fear of what might happen.
Making Emergency Information Accessible to Every Family Member
An emergency plan should work for the people who actually need to use it.
For a child who has difficulty
more time to process information, a standard printed list may not be enough.
Consider whether your household would benefit from:
- Large-print or high-contrast contact sheets.
- Simple written instructions or visual prompts.
- Emergency information in the languages family members understand.
- Clearly labelled contacts that identify each person’s relationship to the child.
- An agreed communication method for someone who cannot use an ordinary voice telephone call.
The Australian emergency call system also provides specific accessibility options. For example, 106 is a text-based emergency relay service for people who use a teletypewriter (TTY); it is not an ordinary SMS service. The Triple Zero Australia website explains the available arrangements and their limitations.
If someone in your household has specific communication needs, check the official guidance relevant to their circumstances rather than assuming that every emergency contact method works for everyone.
Keeping Your Family Emergency Plan Up to Date
Creating an emergency contact list is a great first step, but it is worth reviewing it regularly to make sure it remains useful.
Phone numbers change, children move to new schools, medical circumstances evolve and trusted contacts may no longer be available.
Choose a regular time to check the details. You might do this every three or six months, at the beginning of a new school year, or whenever an important family arrangement changes.
During your review, check that:
- All telephone numbers still work.
- Parents’ and guardians’ details are current.
- School and childcare contacts are correct.
- Medical information reflects any relevant changes.
- Pet microchip and registration details are up to date.
- Emergency supplies are accessible and suitable for your household.
- Everyone who needs to know about the plan understands where it is kept.
You can also revisit your plan using the Australian Red Cross’s emergency preparedness resources and the relevant emergency management agency for your state or territory.
And remember, this isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about giving yourself and the people who care for your children a clearer idea of what to do if something unexpected happens. Even getting a few key numbers together today is a worthwhile start.
Keep These Numbers Handy to Safeguard Your Family
How many of these numbers do you already have on your household emergency contact list?
If there are any important contacts missing, take a few minutes to add them. Start with Triple Zero, your family GP, your children’s school or childcare service, and the people you would turn to if you needed help.
Then think about the less obvious details: the poisons advice number, a trusted backup contact, the relevant local emergency service and the arrangements for your pets.
You don’t need to prepare for every possible scenario to make a meaningful difference. A clear list, a few conversations with your children and an agreed plan with the adults who care for them can make the next step easier to identify when something unexpected happens.
Keep the list accessible, review it regularly and make sure the people who may need it know where to find it.
Most importantly, remember that if someone’s life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Don’t delay urgent emergency assistance while looking for another number.
Australian Emergency Preparedness Resources
For further information, consult these Australian services and official resources:
- Triple Zero Australia โ When and how to call 000. Official guidance on emergency calls, when to seek assistance and accessibility options.
- Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge โ Educational activities for children. Resources for helping young children understand emergencies and learn when and how to request help.
- Healthdirect Australia โ Health information and advice. Information







