Be Safe in Brisbane

Brisbane is by and large a safe city for tourists, and you won’t feel threatened or intimidated when walking the streets during the day or in the evening. However, as with anywhere, the city comes with its fair share of criminals and undesirables, and following some basic courses of action can ensure that you don’t fall victim to them.

Safety

The crime rate in Australia is low; however, petty criminals often target travellers. Be watchful about personal belongings and travel documents, especially in popular tourist destinations along the Gold Coast. An increase in incidents of spiked drinks has been reported and women in particular should be vigilant in nightspots; many victims were also sexually assaulted.

Tropical cyclones generally occur between November and April in some parts of Australia, usually in Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory. Beach-goers are warned to beware of jellyfish in the coastal waters; stings have proved fatal on occasion.

Emergency services: 000

Health

Australia has the highest skin cancer rate in the world. It is highly recommended to always use sunscreen when going outside. On cloudy days and particularly in summer, UV rays still penetrate the clouds, so you still should apply some sun cream, even if you are wearing a t-shirt. When at the beach, put on sun cream before you go in the water, where the risk is higher because of reflection of the sun’s rays in the water.

Australian healthcare professionals are highly trained and medical services are excellent. Visitors from the UK, New Zealand and Finland are entitled to free or heavily subsidised medical and hospital care under reciprocal national healthcare agreements with the taxpayer-funded Medicare organisation. All other visitors should take out travel insurance when visiting Australia. Numerous Australian-based travel insurers offer special cover for visitors at much lower rates than travel cover sold in the US, for instance.

Brisbane Hospital: +61 7 3834 6111