106 (emergency telephone number)

{{Short description|Australian national emergency telephone number for textphones}} {{For|the 'Triple Zero', or 000 Emergency national telephone number in Australia|000 (emergency telephone number)}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} [[File:106 Emergency Logo 01.jpg|thumb|Textphone / TTY hearing or speech impairment (106) logo]] '''106 Text Emergency Call''', commonly known as simply '''106''',<ref name=TripleZero>{{Cite web|url=https://www.triplezero.gov.au/triple-zero/other-emergency-numbers|title=Using other emergency numbers|website=www.TripleZero.gov.au|publisher=Australian Government|date=|access-date=27 December 2020|archive-date=22 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722034003/https://www.triplezero.gov.au/triple-zero/other-emergency-numbers|url-status=live}}</ref> is the Australian national emergency telephone number to be used in life-threatening or time critical situations<ref name=NRS-emergency-calls>{{Cite web|url=https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service/emergency-calls-000|title=Emergency calls (000) – Emergency services can be contacted through the NRS in life threatening or time critical situations.|website=www.Communications.gov.au|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=|access-date=28 December 2020|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121235638/https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service/emergency-calls-000|url-status=live}}</ref> for those with a speech and / or hearing impairment who use telecommunications device for the deaf (textphone or teletypewriter (TTY)).<ref name=TripleZero/><ref name=NRS>{{Cite web|url=http://www.RelayService.com.au/topics/2065.html|title=National Relay Service: Call options: Emergency calls|website=www.RelayService.com.au|publisher=National Relay Service (NRS)|date=|access-date=28 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513125431/http://www.relayservice.com.au/topics/2065.html|archive-date=13 May 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/net/itu-t/inrdb/e129_important_numbers.aspx?country=16&pg_size=50|title=ITU-T E.129 National-only numbers linked with emergency services and other services of social value – Australia|website=www.ITU.int|publisher=International Telecommunication Union (ITU)|date=3 April 2012|access-date=5 January 2021|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127074601/https://www.itu.int/net/itu-t/inrdb/e129_important_numbers.aspx?country=16&pg_size=50|url-status=live}}</ref> It is run by the emergency telephone operator for the National Relay Service (NRS);<ref name=TripleZero/> formerly the Australian Communications Exchange (ACE), a non-profit organisation that provided the relay services component<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ACEinfo.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=24|title=Australian Communications Exchange, What we have done & will do|website=ACEinfo.net.au|publisher=Australian Communications Exchange Limited|date=|access-date=28 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817133519/http://aceinfo.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=24|archive-date=17 August 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> for the NRS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service|title=National Relay Service|website=www.Communications.gov.au|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=|access-date=19 December 2020|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212113451/https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service|url-status=live}}</ref> 106 can only be used by people with a TTY / textphone, or a computer with terminal software (TTY imitation software) and a modem. 106 calls are given priority over other calls handled by the National Relay Service.<ref name=TripleZero/><ref name=NRS-emergency-calls/> 106 is a free-to-call number.<ref name=TripleZero/><ref name=NRS/>

== Usage == Callers to the free 106 Text Emergency Call number will be asked to type <code>PPP</code> for police, <code>FFF</code> for fire, or <code>AAA</code> for ambulance.<ref name=TripleZero/> The relay officer will then call the requested emergency service, and relay the call on behalf of the caller. An able caller can also just say 'police', 'fire', or 'ambulance' to the relay officer.<ref name=NRS/> The relay operator will stay on the line during the entire conversation with the connected emergency service.<ref name=TripleZero/>

Being as all textphone or teletypewriter (TTY) devices are connected to a fixed telephone line (or landline), the emergency service operator be automatically able to determine your geographic location where you are making your call from, however, you will still be asked to confirm the exact address of where the emergency is located.<ref name=TripleZero/>

It is not possible to call 106 from an ordinary telephone (landline or mobile phone), nor send an SMS text message, nor use IRC internet relay. It can only be called from a textphone or teletypewriter (TTY) device.<ref name=TripleZero/>

== See also == * Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) — official telecommunications regulator in Australia

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.Communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub Services for people with disability > Accesshub] — Commonwealth of Australia * [https://www.Communications.gov.au/what-we-do/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service/contact-nrs-helpdesk Contact the National Relay Service helpdesk] — Commonwealth of Australia

{{Emergency telephone numbers}} {{Oceania topic|Telecommunications in}} {{Law enforcement in Australia}} {{Fire services in Australia}} {{Ambulance services in Australia}} {{Australia topics}} {{Portal bar|Australia|Telecommunications|Law|Medicine}} Category:Telecommunications in Australia Category:Emergency telephone numbers Category:Three-digit telephone numbers