AusAlert will be tested in Belmont and Highton on June 18 at 2pm, with compatible phones and other supported devices in the area expected to sound a loud 10-second alert and display a test message. Officials say no action is required. The local trial is part of a broader June rollout ahead of a national test on July 27 and wider availability from October.
What residents should expect
A local trial of Australia’s new emergency warning system, AusAlert, is scheduled for the Geelong suburbs of Belmont and Highton on June 18 at 2pm.
Compatible mobile phones and other supported devices in the test area are expected to sound a loud siren-like alert for about 10 seconds and display a message identifying the broadcast as a test. Officials say no action is required if the alert is received.
The National Emergency Management Agency is running the trial, which uses cell-broadcast technology rather than traditional SMS.
Part of a wider rollout
The Geelong test is one of a series of regional trials being staged in June ahead of a nationwide AusAlert test on July 27. Officials have also said the system is intended for emergencies including bushfires, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, security incidents and public health emergencies.
Victoria Emergency Management commissioner Tim Wiebusch has said devices need up-to-date software to receive the alerts properly. Federal minister Kristy McBain has said the June regional tests are priority alerts, while the July 27 exercise will demonstrate critical alerts that can override silent and do-not-disturb settings.
The system is expected to move toward broader availability from October.
Why it matters
AusAlert is designed to improve location-targeted public warnings during fast-moving emergencies. The test is intended to validate the system before it is used more widely, while also giving residents a preview of how the alerts will appear and sound on their devices.
Revision note
Initial automated publication.