000 (emergency telephone number)
Emergency telephone number in Australia
000 (pronounced "triple zero") is the primary national emergency telephone number in Australia. It is operated by Telstra and is available free of charge from any telephone in Australia, including mobile phones, landlines, and payphones. The number is intended for use in life-threatening or time-critical emergencies.
History[edit | edit source]
The 000 emergency number was introduced in 1961, initially in major cities, and was progressively rolled out to other areas. The choice of 000 was based on technical and practical considerations, including the ease of dialing on rotary phones and the need for a number that could be easily remembered.
Operation[edit | edit source]
When a call is made to 000, it is answered by an operator who will ask which service is required: police, fire brigade, or ambulance. The call is then transferred to the appropriate emergency service.
Technology[edit | edit source]
The 000 service uses advanced telecommunications technology to ensure that calls are routed quickly and efficiently. This includes automatic number identification (ANI) and automatic location identification (ALI) to help emergency services locate the caller.
Alternatives[edit | edit source]
In addition to 000, Australia also has the 112 number, which is a global standard emergency number for GSM mobile phones. Calls to 112 are automatically translated to 000 in Australia.
Public Awareness[edit | edit source]
Public awareness campaigns are regularly conducted to educate the public on the correct use of the 000 emergency number. These campaigns emphasize the importance of using the number only for genuine emergencies.
Challenges[edit | edit source]
The 000 service faces challenges such as hoax calls and non-emergency calls, which can delay response times for genuine emergencies. Efforts are ongoing to reduce these issues through public education and technological solutions.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
- Emergency telephone number
- 112 (emergency telephone number)
- 911 (emergency telephone number)
- 999 (emergency telephone number)
Gallery[edit | edit source]
The 000 emergency logo
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