Follow these tips to safely enjoy your stay in Australia
While Australia is a safe place to live and study, it is important to be aware of your personal safety and certain risks that do exist. Learn about on-campus security, emergency contacts, beach safety and more.
Safety tips
Emergency services
The free emergency number to call for police, fire or ambulance in Australia is triple zero (000) or 112 from mobiles.
Security on-campus
Our campuses have 24-hour security services to provide assistance, safety and support.
Swimming at the beach
Always swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach where lifeguards can see you.
Native animals
Avoid touching or disturbing native animals in their natural habitat
Smoke-free campus
On-campus, only smoke in designated areas
Talk to our students
Speak with a current student about their experience at Griffith University and in Australia
Health services
Medical centres
There are health and medical services on our Gold Coast and Nathan campuses as well as medical centres throughout Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Book an on-campus medical appointment
You can book an appointment or search for an after-hours doctor through Health Engine.
Hospitals
Find a hospital or other health service through Queensland Health. For urgent medical help, call triple zero (000).
Sun protection
Protect yourself against sun damage and skin cancer by using a combination of these five steps.
- Wear sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible and is made out of close-weave materials such as cotton, polyester/cotton and linen.
- Wear a broad-brimmed hat that provides good protection for the face, nose, neck and ears, which are common areas for skin cancers.
- Apply a broad-spectrum 30+ sunscreen 20 minutes before going in the sun and reapply every two hours.
- Stay in the shade, especially between 10 am and 3 pm when the sun is the hottest.
- Wear close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses.
Australia experiences some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world due to our proximity to the equator and our beautiful clear, blue-sky weather. Skin can burn in as little as 15 minutes in the sun so it is important to protect your skin all year round, even when it is cloudy.
Surf and water safety
Our beautiful beaches can pose potential risks to inexperienced beach goers, so it is important to take care when swimming. These risks include:
- the size and strength of our surf
- treacherous rips and gutters
- dangerous marine creatures.
Lifesavers patrol our popular beaches from September to May. Red and yellow flags on these beaches mark the safest areas for swimming.
To enjoy beaches safely
If you follow these simple rules, everyone can enjoy the beach safely:
- Always swim between the red and yellow flags where lifeguards can see you.
- Look at, understand and obey the safety signs.
- Ask a lifeguard or lifesaver for advice before you enter the water.
- Never swim alone—always ask a friend to swim with you.
- Raise your hand, stay calm and call for help if you get into trouble.
If you intend to go scuba diving, check with a dive operator in the local area or contact the Diving Industry Association in the state you are visiting for information on site conditions, safety regulations, licences, permits and diver rating requirements.
Wildlife
Australia is home to some of the most unique and diverse wildlife from around the world.
What makes Griffith remarkable is that our campuses are home to many of Australia’s native plant and animal species. Nathan campus is located near Toohey Forest, home to over 400 species of animals and plants.
Do you know what to do if you see injured or misplaced wildlife?
Griffith is committed to protecting Australia’s native wildlife and asks students to be aware and alert to native animals on campus. To protect their welfare and yours, please avoid touching or disturbing wildlife and their natural habitat.
If you are concerned about your welfare or the welfare of an animal please inform the Campus Support Team.
Awareness and safety
While most of Australia's wildlife are harmless, some animals are potentially dangerous. However the risks are extremely small if you take precautions.
- Avoid feeding and playing with native animals
- Keep to clearly marked tracks when hiking and bushwalking
- Wear protective clothing and footwear when hiking
- When camping, keep the tent door closed to stop wildlife from entering. Shake out any shoes or belongings that have been left on the ground before wearing them again
- Always observe any safety or warning signs
- Always swim between red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches
- Never swim alone and do not swim at dawn or dusk
- If travelling in northern Australia, don't swim in rivers, estuaries, tidal rivers, deep pools or mangrove shores
If you are travelling to other parts of Australia seek advice about wildlife you are unfamiliar with, such as marine stingers or crocodiles. Marine stingers are generally found in the tropical waters of North Queensland (from November to April) and crocodiles live in rivers and coastal estuaries across northern Australia.
Security
On-campus security is available 24 hours a day for enquiries, safety, assistance and support