National Emergency Management Agency

05/06/2026

Make sure your device software is up to date so you’re ready to receive AusAlerts. 📱

AusAlert is the Australian Government’s new national warning system that uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible devices like mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches.

AusAlert will be tested in selected local communities across Australia in June 2026, followed by a national test on Monday 27 July 2026, at around 2:00 pm AEST.

✅ Ensure you can receive AusAlerts by installing the latest software update and restarting your device. Updates also fix bugs, improve performance and may boost battery life.

Follow National Emergency Management Agency for updates about AusAlert.

Find more information, including times and dates for all tests, at: http://www.ausalert.gov.au

AusAlert is a new national warning system that uses the latest technology to send emergency messages to compatible mobile devices.

04/06/2026

AusAlert is being tested in Duffy, Australian Capital Territory at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.

Here’s what you need to know. 👇

A test AusAlert will be sent to all compatible mobile devices in the Molonglo Valley area at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. If you are in the test area with a compatible mobile device, you may receive the alert.

Devices may vibrate and play a siren-like warning sound for about 10 seconds. An AusAlert may appear on your device screen and it will clearly say it is a test. You don't need to do anything.

You can find more information about what the test will look like, and how an AusAlert will appear on your device at: https://www.ausalert.gov.au/alerts-explained/community-testing

03/06/2026

Ever wondered how we prepare for emergencies before they happen, or what we would do if multiple disasters happened at once? 🤔

Crisis management experts from across all levels of government and industry are gathered this week for Exercise Nexus, our annual national crisis exercise.

⚠️ Over the next 3 days, participants will explore how different agencies work together to respond to complex, high-consequence and compounding emergency situations.

💪 Participants will engage in a scenario designed to test coordination, decision-making, and our collective capabilities under pressure.

📝 There will also be panel discussions, case studies and presentations on lessons learned from previous disaster events.

01/06/2026

The 2019–20 bushfire season, also known as the Black Summer, was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia.

For the small Victorian town of Mallacoota, the extent of destruction was immense. Approximately 83% of the land area in the broader Mallacoota district burned. 123 homes, 65 sheds and a large portion of the local infrastructure was destroyed.

To support Mallacoota to recover and rebuild, a Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant assisted the community in establishing the Mallacoota & District Tool Library - MADTL.

The Mallacoota & District Tool Library - MADTL is a volunteer-led initiative of more than 250 tools, including hand tools, garden tools, workshop and DIY tools as well as larger machinery including a log splitter, rotary hoe, chipper, compactor, and trailers. Since December 2024, the Tool Library has recorded more than 2,300 item loans. 🔨

In mid-2025, a shed was constructed to permanently house the library, with off-grid solar power, running water for cleaning and maintaining tools, a back-up generator for emergency power and a security system.

The Tool Library’s support has gone beyond bushfire recovery, helping the community build resilience against future disasters. In March, Mallacoota experienced a power outage lasting more than 30 hours. When the local pharmacy’s back-up generator failed, it risked being unable to operate.

After reaching out to the Tool Library, staff were able to borrow a generator, donated by the Gippsland Community Foundation, which allowed the pharmacy to open as usual and continue supporting the community. 💪

31/05/2026

Earlier this month, the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience (NIDR) Gathering 2026 brought together First Nations leaders, government, community, and research organisations from across Australia to strengthen disaster resilience through collaboration and shared knowledge. 🤝

Held on Gunaikurnai Country in Lakes Entrance, Victoria, the Gathering highlighted the vital role of First Nations leadership, local knowledge, and community-led approaches in shaping more effective emergency management.

Members of attended the event, listening, learning, and connecting with First Nations leaders working across disaster resilience and emergency management.🌿

One message came through clearly: stronger outcomes are achieved when First Nations communities are empowered, local knowledge is respected, and partnerships are at the centre of how we work.

28/05/2026

Applications are now open for DRF Round 4.

At Field River in Adelaide, on Kaurna Yarta, the Igniting Kaurna Cultural Understanding for All project supports the Kaurna (Kauwi-marnirla) Land Management team at Firesticks to combine Cultural Fire practices with targeted woody w**d control and ecological restoration work. 🌱

This work is practical, on-ground First Nations land management in action. Cultural Fire, ecological restoration, w**d control, seasonal observation and community engagement all play a role in reducing extreme fuel loads while supporting native grasslands and culturally significant plant communities.

The project received funding through the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife in Round 2 of the Disaster Ready Fund.

First Nations communities know their Country, culture and needs best. Round 4 of DRF will deliver more disaster risk and reduction projects in partnership with First Nations communities, to help prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters.

📸: Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife

28/05/2026

Major roadworks in Douglas Shire Council are about to begin to support the future 4-lane The Daintree Ferry. 🚗

The current 3-lane The Daintree Ferry provides vehicle and pedestrian access across the Daintree River, connecting the northern Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation with the rest of Far North Queensland.

With the current ferry nearing the end of its service life, the new cable-drawn 4-lane ferry will carry 36 vehicles and deliver a safer, faster, more efficient ferry service. It will benefit residents, visitors, and tourism operators, improving connectivity in the region and supporting the local economy. 💪

The first stage of the project is set to be completed by November 2026, weather permitting. A smoking ceremony was held on 12 May, acknowledging the cultural significance of the area and the connection of Traditional Owners to the Daintree River and surrounding country.

The new ferry is scheduled to start operating in December 2027. ⛴️

These upgrades are partially funded through the Crucial Access Links program, which is jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

📸: Douglas Shire Council

28/05/2026

Winter is just around the corner, but it’s never too cold to be prepared for a bushfire. ❄️

AFAC News have released Australia’s national bushfire outlook for this winter. There will be an increased risk of fire across the northern parts of the Great Sandy Desert and surrounds in Western Australia, and parts of central and northern New South Wales. 🚒

Communities are encouraged to be vigilant and stay alert, even in areas that show a normal risk of fire this season. A few things you can do to prepare include:

🧦 Update your emergency kit to include warmer clothes and blankets
🥫 Restock your emergency food and water supplies
🔋 Check your torch and radio batteries
📋 Practice your emergency and evacuation plan
📻 Learn how you can stay informed if you lose power
📱 Sign up to severe weather notifications from the Bureau of Meteorology

27/05/2026

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week 2026.

Held each year from 27 May to 3 June, National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to consider how we can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

This year’s theme, All In, is a call for everyone to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day.

First Nations people have a unique knowledge of Country. This knowledge helps communities prepare for severe weather and protect them from its impacts. At NEMA, we are committed to listening, learning, and embedding reconciliation within our agency and the broader emergency management community.

26/05/2026

A new purpose-built headquarters will strengthen NSW SES emergency response capabilities in Parkes, New South Wales! 🚨

Officially opened over the weekend, the new NSW SES Parkes Unit headquarters has replaced the previous facility which was damaged by flooding in 2022.

The upgraded facility will provide NSW SES volunteers with modern infrastructure and additional operational capabilities to support communities before, during and after disasters. 🤝

3 specialist emergency response vehicles were delivered as part of the project, including a Community First Responder Vehicle, an Inflatable Rescue Boat, and a Light Flood Rescue Vehicle.

This project was partially funded through the Community Assets Program under the jointly funded Australian Government and NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements

📸: NSW SES