Health and safety

Australia is generally a very safe place to live and study. The 2011 OECD Better Life Index(opens in a new window) rated Australia 9.3 out of 10 for safety, one of the highest ratings awarded to any country.

But it is still important to look after yourself and be aware of the risks that exist – and ways to minimise them. This is particularly important for when you first arrive and are adjusting to your new way of life.

Following your common sense and best practices will ensure you remain safe and healthy, whether you are handling emergencies, personal and home safety, or natural elements such as sun, water, and fire.

Information for emergencies

The assistance and emergency networks in Australia are widespread and well equipped for any potential emergencies. Fire, ambulance, and police services will be able to provide you with any health and safety assistance you may need.

Wherever you are in Australia, if there’s a life-threatening emergency, call 000 (zero zero zero). It’s a free call, even from your mobile. An operator will answer and will ask which of the following services you need:

• Police
• Fire
• Ambulance

If you’re not sure which one you need just tell the operator what you are calling about and they will help guide you. If you don’t speak English, tell the operator your language and you will be connected to a translator who will be able to assist.

It is important to remain calm. The operator will ask questions, such as: where are you located, what is the emergency, and how many people are involved.

Here are some examples of when you should call 000:

• Someone has been seriously injured or is in urgent need of medical help.
• If your life or property is being threatened.
• If you have just witnessed a serious accident or crime.

Most institutions provide on-campus security who can be easily contacted. Their contact details should be in your enrolment information, but if they are not, contact your institution’s international student support staff to get their phone number or office location.

If it’s a life-threatening emergency, you should still call 000 even if you are at school or on campus.

Personal safety

While Australia is generally a safe place to live and study, it is still important that you take precautions to reduce the chance of an incident occurring.

Going out

When you are out with friends or by yourself, here are some simple things to consider:

• Always plan your trip home, especially at night. You may want to pre-book a taxi or arrange transport with a friend. Always make sure you have enough money to get home.
• Try to travel with a friend or in a group.
• Keep your bag and belongings close to your body and where you can always see them.
• Never hitch hike.
• If you don’t have a mobile phone, make sure you have a phone card or money to make a phone call.
• Where available, use pedestrian walkways and cross the street at pedestrian crossings or lights.
• Leave valuables at home if you don’t need to take them with you. This includes jewellery, electronic equipment such as iPads and your passport. If you’ve recently arrived and don’t have anywhere permanent to live yet, talk to your institution’s international student support staff about secure storage facilities on campus.
• Don’t carry large amounts of money with you. You can access your money at ATMs found in shops, supermarkets, petrol stations, shopping malls, bars, shop fronts and many other public places.
• Call 000 in the event of an emergency. Remember, calls to 000 are free of charge.

Public transport

Public transport is reliable and widely used in Australia, particularly in metro and urban areas. A number of security measures have been implemented to maximise the safety of public transport users including security officers and guards, help points, good lighting and security cameras. However you should still use caution when travelling on public transport:

• Avoid isolated bus, rail and tram stops.
• Check transport timetables to avoid long waits, particularly at night.
• Train carriages nearest to the driver or guard are lit and safest at night.
• If you find yourself left in a train carriage on your own or with only one other person you may feel more comfortable moving to another carriage.

Taxis

Some tips when using taxis in Australia:

• Sit wherever you feel most comfortable – it is normal for passengers to sit in the front or the rear of the taxi.
• Always ensure you know the address of your destination before getting into the taxi.
• Tell the driver the route you would like to take to your destination, and don’t be afraid to speak up if the driver takes you a different route, particularly one you are unfamiliar with.
• If you don’t want the driver to know exactly where you live, get them to drop you off a short distance away.

At school or on campus

When you are at your institution during the day or night, here are some tips to help keep you safe:

• Make sure you are aware of the security and emergency arrangements at your institution and in your local area. Your institution should provide you with this information either in your information pack or once you arrive.
• Some large institutions offer security escort services or bus shuttle services for out of office hours. Contact your institution directly to see if this is a service they offer.
• If you drive to your institution, try to park close to your destination and use well-lit car parks.
• When leaving your institution at night try to walk with a friend or group, and take paths that are well lit and ideally frequently used by other people.

Using the internet

When using internet, like anywhere in the world, you should protect yourself against spam, online scams like ‘phishing’, online bullying and identity theft. You can find more information about protecting yourself online at Australia.gov.au Many Australian internet service providers also offer guidance so check their website as well.

Home safety

Safety at home is important, no matter where you live. Here are some tips to help keep you and your home safe.

• Always keep your doors locked – both when you are home and when you go out.
• Lock windows when you go out, or in rooms you are not in while at home.
• Do not let strangers into your house.
• Be careful of the information you give out to strangers through the internet, on social networking sites, or over the phone. If you are not at home or go on holidays do not make this information available to strangers.
• Smoke alarms will alert you to smoke on the property, so don’t remove the batteries or tamper with them. If you live in a rental property, hostel or hotel it’s the law to have smoke alarms fitted. If your property doesn’t have them, talk to your landlord or real estate agent.
• If you come home to find evidence of a break in (broken window or door lock), contact the police from a safe location.

Sun and water safety

The Australian sun can be very hot and may be stronger than what you are used to in your home country.

There are some steps you can take to protect your skin:

• Wear sunscreen protection (such as SPF30+ water resistant sun cream) and apply before you go outside.
• Apply sunscreen at least 25-30 minutes before swimming and ensure you re-apply sunscreen after swimming.
• Wear a hat and UV protective sunglasses.
• Avoid spending long periods of time in the sun between 10am and 3pm, as this is when the sun is strongest.
• Make sure you follow these tips even when it isn’t sunny – you can still get burnt on cloudy or overcast days.

Australia has many beautiful beaches and waterways, but it is important to take care when swimming. Here are some tips for staying safe in the water:

• Never dive into a body of water if you are not sure how deep it is.
• Only swim at patrolled beaches (a beach where there are lifeguards on duty – look for signs) and always swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards can see you.
• Many Australian beaches have ‘rips’. These are strong underwater currents that can be hard to spot but which can draw you away from the shore quickly. If you swim between the flags you should not have any problem with rips. If you do find yourself in a rip, try not to panic or swim against it. Stay with your surfboard or other floating device if you have one. Swim gently parallel to the beach out of the rip zone, or wave and call for assistance from lifeguards or other swimmers and surfers.

For more information on water safety visit the Surf Life Saving(opens in a new window) website.

Fire safety

Fire awareness is essential in Australia, even in city and urban areas.

If you experience a fire emergency, follow these steps:

1. Call 000 from any phone or mobile – it is a free call even from a mobile phone.
2. Say the word “fire” to the operator.
3. Don’t speak English? Just tell the operator your language and wait for instructions.
4. Answer the questions the operator asks.

Tips for fire prevention

• Make sure your house or room has a working smoke alarm.
• Wiring and electrical devices can overheat from too much use, especially in older buildings, so don’t overload powerboards or double adaptors.
• Keep electric heaters and radiators at least a metre from your bed, furniture or any curtains.
• Remember to turn off all appliances when finished cooking. Most household fires occur in the kitchen when grease, oil or other flammable cooking materials are left on the stove and forgotten.

What to do if there’s a fire

In case there’s a fire at home, plan a way to get out in advance. Don’t block doorways or windows, and make sure you can open your windows – they can get stuck in older buildings. Have a specific place for keys and your phone, so if you have to leave in a hurry you know exactly where they are and can call emergency services.

If you are out in the bush when there is a fire, pay attention to media reports on television, radio and the internet, which will tell you if or when you should evacuate the area.