Health, safety and wellbeing

A few simple precautions can improve your personal safety and make life in the Northern Territory more secure. 

• Walking home alone after dark, even a short distance makes you vulnerable. Avoid it any way you can - walk with friends, call a taxi or order an uber. 
• When walking on the street you should stay alert, walk in a well-lit area, walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic. 
• When taking the bus you should know the timetables so you don't have to wait long, carry a mobile phone, keep personal belongings secure and sit near the bus driver. 
• At home, make sure you lock your doors and cars each day and night and secure personal belongings.
• When using an ATM, make sure to never how anyone your PIN. 

For more information on personal safety can be found here, and more information on home security is available here.

Dial 000 to contact the police, fire brigade or ambulance.

In the Northern Territory, various services are available to assist with mental health and wellbeing challenges. If you need to talk to someone about your situation, and your education and training provider or institution are unable to help, you can seek help from the following places: 

• Lifeline - 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
• Northern Territory Mental Health Line - 1800 682 288
• Relationships Australia - 1300 458 600

There are also lots of free online resources to help you to look after your mental wellbeing: 

• Reach Out: tools that help under 25-year olds with everyday questions through to tough times. 
• Head to Health: connects you to mental health support
• Orgen chatsafe: tools and tips to help young people communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide 
• Beyond Blue: provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health

For sexual health and wellbeing resources and support you can contact the following services: 

Family Planning Welfare Association NT: education and information on sexual and reproductive health, including contraception, pregnancy options, women's health screening and general sexual health issues.

Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council: links culturally diverse and LGBITQ people to information and support.

Minus 18: an Australian youth-led organisation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. 

Clinic 34: is a specialist sexual health service that provides testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. All services are free and confidential. You do not need a Medicare Card. 

The Northern Territory's climate is perfect for water activities. You can stay safe in the water by following these rules:

• Only swim in areas marked safe to swim and read all safety and warning signs before entry.
• If you can’t swim, don’t enter the water.
• Waterholes can have submerged objects such as rocks and logs. Conditions can change after flood events, so always be vigilant.
• Don’t jump off any surface, especially waterfalls and rock ledges.
• Always be crocwise:
  • saltwater crocodiles live in salt and fresh water in the Northern Territory and are dangerous - read and obey all crocodile safety signage. Always be crocwise around any body of water.
  • freshwater crocodiles generally stay away from people but will bite if provoked - do not disturb them.

It's not advised to swim at any beach or estuary. Stinger or box jellyfish inhabit waters from October to May each year. Swimming in saltwater is best done at the Darwin Waterfront. Visit their website for more information.

Scam phone calls and text messages are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making them difficult to detect. Scammers employ various tactics, ranging from deceptive text messages with links to intimidating phone calls. Here are essential tips to shield yourself from scams:

1. STOP: never disclose your personal information or send money if you're uncertain. Scammers often try to extract sensitive details like security question answers. Take your time and resist the urge to act hastily.
2. THINK: pause and question the authenticity of the call. Scammers often pose as trusted organisations. Always reach out to the organisation through independently sourced contact information. If in doubt, hang up.
3. PROTECT: trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, take swift action. Report harassment to the police and financial losses to your bank. You can also seek assistance from ID Care or Scamwatch. 
4. REMEMBER: avoid engaging with suspicious callers and exercise caution before divulging personal information over the phone. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Find out about the 10 most common types of scams in the Northern Territory.