Trust
Safety
Most stays go exactly to plan. When something does not, this page tells you who to call, how to tell us, and where to find the official warnings for fire, flood and storms.
In an emergency
Call 000 if anyone is in danger
Police, fire and ambulance, from any phone, free. From a mobile with no coverage, 112 may connect through another network. Call first, then tell your host and us.
- Police, fire or ambulance, life in danger
- 000
- SES: flood and storm help
- 132 500
- Police Assistance Line: not urgent
- 131 444
- Poisons Information Centre
- 13 11 26
- Lifeline: crisis support, 24 hours
- 13 11 14
- Healthdirect: nurse advice, 24 hours
- 1800 022 222
Numbers as at September 2026. Services are run by governments and charities, not by OzGetaways.
How to report a problem
Tell us about anything that worries you: a listing that looks wrong, someone asking you to pay outside OzGetaways, a message that crosses a line, or anything unsafe at a property.
- During a stay: use Urgent help on your booking. A person on our team picks it up and contacts you and the host.
- A listing, a profile or a message: use Report on the listing, the profile or the message.
- Anything else, including noise or a neighbour complaint about a property: the contact form with the topic “Safety or a problem with a stay”. You do not need an account.
What happens next: we read every report, ask the people involved for their side, and act on what we find. That can mean a warning, pausing a listing while it is fixed, or removing an account. We tell the person who reported that we have acted, though not always the details, to protect everyone’s privacy. If a stay went wrong, the GetawayShield™ guarantee explains how we help you rebook or refund you.
Bushfire, flood and storms
Check the official warning first
OzGetaways is not a warning service. Before you travel and during your stay, check your state’s emergency service and follow what it tells you, including any advice to leave. If you are told to leave, leave: we will sort out the booking afterwards.
- NSWNSW Rural Fire Service and Hazards Near MeFire danger, fires near you and total fire bans.
- NSWNSW State Emergency ServiceFlood and storm warnings and help.
- VICVicEmergencyFire, flood and storm warnings in one place.
- QLDQueensland Disaster ManagementWarnings, road closures and what to do.
- WAEmergency WABushfire, flood and cyclone warnings.
- SASA Country Fire ServiceFire danger ratings, bans and warnings.
- TASTasALERTEmergency warnings for Tasmania.
- ACTACT Emergency Services AgencyCurrent incidents and fire danger.
- NTSecureNTEmergency warnings for the Northern Territory.
- AllBureau of Meteorology warningsWeather, flood and fire weather warnings.
Before you go
- On high fire danger days, think about whether to travel to bushland at all. On a Catastrophic day, leave bush areas early or do not go.
- Never drive, walk or swim through floodwater. It takes very little water to float a car.
- Download your state’s emergency app and turn on alerts for where you are staying.
- Read the house guide for the property’s own emergency plan: exits, where to meet, and the nearest safer place.
If a warning means you cannot reach the property or must leave it, message your host and us. What happens to your booking depends on its cancellation policy and on whether the host can still provide the stay; we help either way.
Staying safe as a guest
- Book, pay and message on OzGetaways. Never pay a host by bank transfer or a link sent outside the site; report anyone who asks.
- The exact address and check-in details come with your confirmation, not before.
- When you arrive, find the smoke alarms, the exits, the first aid kit and the fire blanket or extinguisher if there is one.
- Pools and spas: stay with children every minute, and keep pool gates shut.
- Trust your instincts. If a place or a person makes you feel unsafe, leave, then tell us.
Keeping guests safe as a host
- Working smoke alarms and pool barriers that meet your state’s rules. Test alarms before the season.
- A first aid kit, a fire blanket and a torch that are easy to find.
- A house guide with the address written out for a 000 call, the exits, where to meet, and your local emergency service.
- No cameras inside the home. Any outdoor camera must be shown on the listing.
- Know who is staying through the booking, and keep messages on OzGetaways. If a guest makes you feel unsafe, call 000 if needed, then use Urgent help on the booking.
More in Safety for hosts and our Standards.
Beaches, heat and wildlife
- Beaches: swim between the red and yellow flags, and check conditions on Beachsafe before you go. If you are caught in a rip, stay calm, float and raise an arm.
- Heat: drink water, stay out of the midday sun, and never leave anyone, or a pet, in a parked car.
- Snakes and spiders: leave them be. For a bite, call 000, keep still, and apply a firm bandage if you know how.
- Driving: watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk, and check road closures with your state’s traffic service.