AusAlert test will blast emergency warning siren over most phones in Australia on Monday. Here’s what to know | Australia news

What is AusAlert?

AusAlert is Australia’s new national alert system that will send emergency messages to mobile devices during local and widespread disasters.

Authorities are currently using SMS texts to alert people to safety information. The new system will instead send a mass broadcast via mobile phone base stations and an alert similar to a phone notification will appear on the devices.

It will launch nationally in October, months after national testing.

What will happen in the national exam?

“A test alert will be sent to all mobile devices in Australia on Monday 27 July 2026. This includes most phones, some smartwatches and tablets,” the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) advises.

Users will hear a siren and see a pop-up notification on their phone containing the text “TEST MESSAGE” and “NO ACTION REQUIRED”, although it will look different depending on the device.

“What people should expect to hear is a siren that will last about 10 seconds,” Nema’s interim coordinator Pat Hetherington told Guardian Australia.

He said it would be “loud enough to catch people’s attention” but quieter than a fire alarm.

“It will be eye-catching, but not too over-the-top.”

What time is the AusAlert test around Australia?

Local testing has been carried out, but Monday will be the first nationwide test at 2pm (AEST):

• 14:00 for New South Wales, Victoria, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania.

• 13.30 in the Northern Territory and South Australia.

• It’s 12:00 in Western Australia.

Why is emergency alert system testing needed?

Hetherington said AusAlert came from the advice of the royal commission into the 2019-20 dark summer bushfires, which called for a nationally consistent warning system.

“The current system relies on standard SMS capacity, and during a number of emergencies and disasters this system has experienced real delays for people receiving messages,” he said.

“You [could] If you experience network congestion, text messages may not arrive on time…or may not arrive at all, depending on who your provider is.”

Kristy McBain, the federal emergency management minister whose electorate in Eden-Monaro was affected by the summer black bushfires, said some people in her district did not receive SOS alerts because their phone providers were unavailable during the disaster.

The new system allows for nationwide alerts, as well as localized “geo-fenced” alerts such as floods and even alerts to boil water in emergencies.

McBain said AusAlert was a “far superior” system and would reach “more people in a more timely manner” than current alert systems used by state governments. Existing systems will continue to be used in the future, with McBain describing AusAlert as “another tool in the toolkit”.

Will every phone ring or make a sound at 2pm AEST?

Actually yes. Hetherington said phones manufactured after 2019 should receive the warning, but some older phones may not.

The alert will come from all compatible devices, even if you are on a call or the phone is on silent. Nema says about 80% of Apple iPhones and about 16 million Android devices will ring.

“The only way to avoid receiving a critical alert is to turn off your mobile device or put it into ‘airplane mode,'” Nema advised.

The agency said the alert will go to:

• iPhone models 11 and above running iOS 26.4 or later.

• Apple Watch models SE2, SE3, Series 6 and above running watchOS 26.4 or later.

• Android devices running Android 12 or later.

Nema said older Androids or those not using iOS or Android “may still receive AusAlerts” but Apple iPads will not.

Hetherington and Nema’s deputy general co-ordinator, Katarina Carroll, said the agency had contacted “thousands” of groups, including schools, businesses and even funeral associations, to alert them about the stimulus test.

They said it was important that testing was done at a “ordinary” time of day so people knew what to expect in the future.

However, Hetherington and Carroll stated that some people may find it objectionable to ring a loud siren bell, for example, during an important meeting or funeral, and said, “If you turn off your phone an hour before and an hour after.” [2pm AEST]We are sure that you will not receive this message.”

Other countries around the world have had problems testing or using such systems, with warnings delayed or not arriving at all. Nema said he had “learned a lot” from testing around the world and was well prepared for Monday.

What about ‘safe phones’ for those experiencing domestic and family violence?

Domestic and family violence advocates expressed concern about the risk of the warning exposing “safe phones,” or devices of victims of violence that are kept secret for security reasons.

Nema said the agency consulted with domestic violence experts about testing, helped advocates disseminate safety information, and shared safety information. a safety guide on the website.

Hetherington stated that phones that are turned off or in airplane mode will not receive the warning and said: “There are too many messages for secure phones and hidden phones. [to switch off for] “A period of 24 hours.”

Carroll added: “Our advice is if anything happens. [during the test]Keep it covered for about an hour. But there is certainly a broader recommendation for an extension of time for domestic and family violence. [24 hours].”

Groups such as the Women’s Safety Commissioner, DV Connect and the Council for Single Mothers and Their Children have issued safety advice to this effect.

What do I need to do when I receive AusAlert?

Nothing. The test does not require any action.

But Hetherington encouraged Australians to answer a survey or give feedback after the test to help Nema assess the success of the experiment and any changes that might be required.

“People need to read the message. But this is a test that doesn’t require people to do anything,” he said.

“We’re obviously interested in hearing whether people are getting the message.”

When will AusAlert actually be used?

Nema suggests that alerts can be used for legitimate hazards such as wildfires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes; serious public safety issues or terrorism; biosecurity incidents; and major public health events.

States and territories will be able to send warnings.

“I would expect some states to use this quite a bit, especially in situations where you want information to be released in near real time,” Hetherington said.