How to stay safe

Australia is a very safe country with a low crime rate, but you still need to be aware of risks to your safety, especially in and around urban areas. Here we offer common sense advice that will help you stay safe during your time in Australia.

Call triple zero (000) for emergency services

Triple zero (000) is Australia’s 24-hour telephone number for all emergency services – Police, Fire and Ambulance. This is a free call even from a mobile phone.

The operator who answers your call will ask if you need Police, Fire or Ambulance. They will also ask for your location. The operator will then arrange for the appropriate service to respond.

• Most house break-ins are crimes of opportunity, with relatively easy entry through an open or unlocked window or door. To minimise your risk of a break-in:Make sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street so you can be easily located in an emergency.For additional tips, see home and property safety on the Victoria Police website.
• There are many ways to keep you and your belongings safe when you’re out in public, and when travelling by public transport, taxi or car. For details, go to personal safety.
• To stay safe when you’re walking on roads and paths:For additional tips, see pedestrians and cyclists on the Victoria Police website.
• In Victoria, owners and landlords are required by law to install smoke alarms in all residential buildings, including houses, townhouses, flats and units. (Make sure to change the batteries regularly – we suggest every six months when daylight saving time starts and ends.) If the place you’re renting doesn’t have a smoke alarm (positioned to wake sleeping occupant), contact your landlord.To minimise the risk of fire:For more information, check out Fire Rescue Victoria’s home fire safety booklet (available in 26 languages).
• Australian beaches can have strong currents, which can be quite dangerous. So we recommend that you only swim at beaches patrolled by Life Saving Victoria (staying between the red and yellow flags).If you’re not confident in the water, join a swimming class at the Doug Ellis Swimming Pool at the Clayton campus. Monash students can participate for free in the Water Wise: Introduction to Swimming Program. Or you can join a class at your local public pool.For additional tips, see water safety on the Victorian Government website and beach and waterways safety on the Victoria Police website.
• Australia has some of the world’s highest levels of UV radiation from the sun, which contributes to a high rate of skin cancer.To protect yourself from Australia’s harsh sun:Take these precautions from September through April, as well as on warmer days in August and May. June and July are the only months of the year in Melbourne when the UV rating is fairly low.For additional tips, go to the SunSmart website.
• Don’t be tricked into giving scammers your personal details or money. You could be targeted in person, over the phone or by email or text message. Scammers use all sorts of methods – from online dating and fake shopping websites to get-rich-quick offers and extortion. For details, go to the scams webpage and online security.