The Federal Government’s new cell-broadcast national messaging system, AusAlert, is progressing to the next stage of testing right here in South West Sydney.
AusAlert will be sending a test alert in Liverpool tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17 at 4pm local time.
AusAlert uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible mobile phones devices during local and national disasters such as natural hazards like bushfires, floods, cyclones and tsunamis, security threats, public health emergencies, and biosecurity incidents.
Its messages are a fast and reliable way to ensure people are informed and better prepared during local and national emergencies.
Alerts can be sent to devices within a geo-targeted area.
The new AusAlert system is being tested in a variety of different locations before it is introduced nationally from October.
Tomorrow, a test alert will be sent to mobile devices in the vicinity of Liverpool. Everyone in the test area with a compatible mobile device will receive an alert unless:
- You have your phone off or in aeroplane mode
- You have not upgraded your phone to the latest software update (which may require you to turn your phone off and on to take effect)
- You move into an area where there is no mobile coverage.
Devices will vibrate and play a siren-like warning sound for about 10 seconds.
An AusAlert message will appear on device screens, and it will clearly say it is a test.
Exactly how it appears will depend on your device type and operating system.
Member for Hughes David Moncrieff says the aim of AusAlert is keeping Australians safe in an uncertain world.
“From the bush and the regions to the major cities like Sydney, the new system will give locals precise and targeted alerts about hazards in their area,’’ he said.
“This technology is world’s best-practice, keeping Australians reliably and efficiently informed of emergencies.
“The Liverpool community test is important to finding and troubleshooting any issues early in the roll-out.”
This local community test will be followed by a national test of AusAlert which will take place on July 27.
More information about the community-based trials and national test, including what the AusAlert will look and sound like, can be found on the AusAlert website.
