Emergency Procedures & Numbers

Emergency Procedures When in Australia

In the event of an emergency, please dial 000 to contact the Police, Ambulance, and Fire Brigade in Australia.

If you have any personal emergencies, please contact a local staff member immediately no matter the time of the day or night. The Program Director (0400 153 411) or the Residential & Properties Manager (0425 277 942) can provide you with additional guidance and support. 

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

  • Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade in Australia:  000
  • Residential & Properties Manager:  0425 277 942
  • BU Sydney Office Number (business hours):  02 8396 7300
  • Royal Prince Alfred (closest hospital to BUSAC): 02 9515 6111
  • U.S. Consulate General Sydney (business hours):  02 8219 2100

Fire Safety

If you have falsely set off the fire alarm, quickly press the False Fire Alarm button located next to the kitchen light switch. This button allows the resident 60 seconds to clear the smoke by quickly opening windows and doors and ventilating the kitchen area. If smoke is not cleared out, the entire building’s fire alarm will sound.

There is no such thing as a fire ‘drill’. If the alarm sounds in the building, expect a fire in progress and respond accordingly. When the alarm sounds all residents should move quickly and quietly to the nearest fire door, proceed down the stairs, and exit the building. Residents are asked to gather at the designated assembly area which is shown to you during Orientation in Sydney. Our fire evacuation assembly area the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) tower forecourt on Broadway near Regent Street.

Directions to the Assembly Point:

Turn left from the front of BUSAC and head down towards Broadway. Cross at the traffic lights (corner of Regent St. and Broadway) to the other side of Broadway. Turn left and walk approximately 50 metres to the UTS Tower forecourt.

The Fire Brigade responds to all alarms and needs immediate access to the building. Residents are asked to stay on the sidewalk and away from the building’s main entrance.

Fire safety is taken very seriously. All residents are expected to cooperate in keeping the program housing as safe as possible. For this reason, the following activities are forbidden: setting fires of any kind for any reason; tampering with any fire safety equipment including fire extinguishers, fire alarm boxes, smoke detectors, and sprinkler heads (such as hanging objects from sprinkler heads, etc.); malicious activation of a fire alarm; accidental activation of a smoke detector or fire alarm resulting from hall sports, water fights, etc.; lighting candles or open flames, and the burning of incense; and using space heaters or other types of heating coils. Any resident engaging in any of the above activities should expect serious consequences up to, and including, expulsion from the program/residence. Hanging belongings from the smoke detectors may also cause the fire alarm to go off.

Safety in the City

Sydney is Australia’s largest city, and although it may seem smaller or safer than other metropolitan areas, it is a city nonetheless, and presents the same dangers as all major cities.

Please take note of the following safety suggestions and considerations.

  • Practice situational awareness: be aware of your surroundings and be vigilant of others at all times.
  • Do not participate in demonstrations or protests.
  • Travel with others and look out for each other.
  • Obey traffic signals! Wait for the traffic signal and look right, then left, then right again before you cross the street.
  • Pay attention to the news!
  • If you choose to drink alcohol, drink responsibly
  • Carry a phone with you at all times. Always ensure that you have enough credit on your phone and that you have emergency numbers programmed in.
  • Keep a close eye on your belongings
  • If you choose to explore Sydney after dark, stay in groups and keep an eye on those you went out with to ensure everyone makes it back safely.
  • Always keep an eye on your food/drinks/etc.
  • If you witness an emergency situation, do not get involved. Call 000 and inform the proper authorities.

Emergency Procedures Outside of Australia

If holidaying in another country during your time on the program, it is important to contact International SOS in any event of medical emergency or security risk. International SOS offers a 24 hour hotline for students to call from any country. The assistance offering from International SOS is diverse, ranging from helping to locate a general practitioner to more emergency scenarios such as evacuations. They are a great resource as a first point of call if any emergency scenario arises when you are not in Sydney.

We strongly urge you to contact International SOS prior to any international travel so you can register the trip and gain important pre-trip planning assistance. Additionally, please ensure you add the relevant International SOS contact phone number prior to departing on your travels.

If calling International SOS from within Australia dial 02 9372 2468, otherwise see their website for contact information from other destinations: https://www.internationalsos.com/