As part of a new national emergency warning system, the Australian Government will be conducting an Australia-wide test of AusAlert on Monday, 27 July 2026.

What is AusAlert?

AusAlert is Australia's new mobile emergency warning system. It has been designed to quickly deliver emergency alerts to compatible mobile devices during significant incidents such as natural disasters or other emergencies.

As part of the national rollout, a test message will be sent to compatible mobile phones across Australia.

What should you expect?

During the scheduled test, your mobile device may:

• Play a loud alert sound, even if it is set to silent or mute.

• Display a test emergency notification on screen.

While this will only be a brief interruption for most people, we recognise that it may present safety concerns for some members of our community.

Important information for anyone with a hidden or secondary phone

For people experiencing family or domestic violence, particularly those who keep a hidden or "safe" phone, this test could unintentionally reveal the existence of that device.

To help reduce this risk, the advice is to:

• Turn the device completely off or place it in aeroplane mode at least one hour before the test begins in your area.

• Leave the device switched off (or in aeroplane mode) for at least 24 hours after the test.

Simply silencing the phone or turning the volume down will not prevent the alert from sounding.

Need more information?

Yourtoolkit.com, a free digital resource that provides practical safety information and support for women experiencing abuse. Their guidance explains how to prepare devices safely ahead of the AusAlert test.

The test will roll out across Australia at different times, beginning on Christmas Island at 11:00 am and progressing east, with the final locations commencing from 2:00 pm local time.

If you'd like to check the testing schedule for your location or learn more about the AusAlert system, please visit the official AusAlert website.