Millions of Australians will soon hear the same high-pitched alarm on their phones when the federal government conducts a nationwide alert system.
The AusAlert test will run at 2pm AEST, 1.30pm ACST and 12pm AWST on Monday July 27 and is expected to arrive simultaneously on compatible phones, smartwatches and tablets.
The alerts will ping on every compatible phone in Australia on July 27. Australian government
Phones will vibrate and emit a loud, siren-like alarm which will last for around 10 seconds.
However, the government has warned anyone who might be disrupted or be put in an unsafe situation to turn off their phones before the test is rolled out.
It will override silent mode or do not disturb mode on phones and other devices.
The only way to avoid receive the test is to turn off your mobile device or switch it to airplane mode.
“If receiving an AusAlert test message will disrupt you or cause you or someone you know to feel unsafe, turn off your mobile devices or switch them to aeroplane mode before the scheduled test time in your location and leave them off for at least one hour,” the federal government said.
An AusAlert message will appear on device screens, which will clearly label the alert as a test.
The way the alert appears on screens will depend on the device and operating system.
“To make sure you’re AusAlert ready, always update the latest software version on your device when asked,” the government added.
“Be sure to restart your device after updating.”
Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain at a press conference announcing the AusAlert test. Alex Ellinghausen
The AusAlert system will deliver emergency messages to the Australian public once it is operational in October 2026.
The $132 million system is slated to replace the current state-based SMS emergency alerts.
It will send alerts to phones if there is a national disaster, major incident or a threat to public safety.
In an actual disaster, an AusAlert will tell you:
The type of emergencyWhere it’s locatedHow serious it isWhat to doThe name of the emergency organisation that has sent the AusAlertWhere to find more information about the emergency.