Who to call for help

In an immediate, life-threatening emergency such as:

Chest pain or chest tightness
Sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg
Large burns
Serious accidents
Severe bleeding
Difficulty breathing
Extreme pain
Unconsciousness

Examples of immediate, life-threatening emergencies

Call Triple Zero (000) and the call taker will help you.

If you need urgent care but it is not life-threatening

Visit an Urgent Care Clinic

A dedicated nurse is ready to help you, day or night. Free service, no referral or medicare card required

Video call with Virtual ED

Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) provides video consultations with emergency clinicians. The service is free, no referral or medicare card required.

You can also get help from

Who you can call for help

- Triple Zero (Police, Fire, Ambulance): 000
- VicEmergency Hotline: 1800 225 226
- State Emergency Service (SES): 13 25 00
- Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED)
- After hours doctors: 13Sick or 17 27 25
- Nurse-on-Call: 1300 60 60 24
- Health Direct: 1800 022 222
- Victorian Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26
- Maternal and Child Health Line: 13 22 29
- Palliative Care Advice Service: 1800 360 000
- National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1800 880 052
- Parentline: 13 22 89
- LGBTIQA+ support: 1800 184 527
- Carers Victoria: 1800 514 845
- 1800 Respect: 1800 727 732
- Police Assistance Line: 131 444
- National Relay Service: TTY 106
- Kids Help Line: 1800 55 18 00
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- SuicideLine: 1300 651 251
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Turning Point: 1800 250 015
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait: 13YARN or Islander Crisis Support: 13 92 76
- Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188

Ambulance service fees and coverage

In Victoria, you have to pay for ambulance services. View Ambulance Victoria fees.

Some people are covered for the cost of ambulance treatment and transport services. View the service fee coverage.

Printable PDF

General Health Information Sheet - Who to call for help

PDF 196.18 KB

Translated resources

Resources are available in multiple languages to help everyone understand important health information.