In a world where disasters like bushfires, floods and storms can escalate quickly, timely warnings are vital. The Australian Government is rolling out a new national emergency alert system called AusAlert.

AusAlert uses modern cell broadcast technology to send emergency notifications straight to mobile phones, bypassing traditional text messages that can be slowed by network congestion.

Instead of SMS, AusAlert will deliver messages tailored to a very specific location, to within 160 metres — sometimes to as little as a single street or building — so people in harm’s way can be warned quickly and accurately. That’s a big step forward from the older system, which could struggle to get messages to everyone on time during major emergencies.

The system will alert for a range of serious events including natural hazards like bushfires, floods and cyclones, public safety threats, biosecurity risks and health emergencies.

The trial and how the rollout will work

Before AusAlert becomes fully operational, the Government is conducting phased testing to make sure it works smoothly. 

Here’s what’s planned:

June 2026 – Community Trials

In June, a series of smaller tests will be conducted in a range of urban, regional and remote areas across the country. These trials are designed to check the technology in real-world settings and to build community familiarity with what the alerts look and sound like. Locations include:

• Liverpool, NSW
• Port Douglas, QLD
• Majura, ACT
• Launceston, TAS
• Geelong, VIC
• Tennant Creek, NT
• Goomalling, WA
• Port Lincoln, SA
• Queanbeyan, NSW (cross border test) 

27 July 2026 – National Test

Everyone with a compatible phone across Australia will receive a nationwide test alert at 2pm AEST on Monday 27 July 2026. This is a big moment for awareness and checking that the system can reach as many devices as possible.

October 2026 – Operational Launch

The Government aims for AusAlert to be fully operational by October 2026, just ahead of the 2026–27 high-risk weather season.

What Australians can expect

AusAlert messages are designed to stand out:

• They will appear on your phone screen even if it’s locked, on silent or in Do Not Disturb mode.
• They use a distinct sound and vibration for the most urgent alerts.
• Alerts can include information about what is happening, where it is, how severe it is and what action to take, along with a link to more details.

There are two types of alerts:

• Critical alerts: For immediate threats to life and property. These have a fixed volume and cannot be disabled.
• Priority alerts: Less intrusive messages that you can opt out of.

About 90 per cent of phones in Australia are expected to be compatible, especially models from recent years.

What you should do if you receive an alert

If you get an AusAlert message:

1. Read it carefully before dismissing it. Alerts provide specific actions you should take.
2. Follow official guidance, whether it’s to evacuate, seek shelter, or stay informed through emergency services.
3. If you’re unsure what the alert means, check state or territory emergency services websites or official social channels for updates.

Remember: these messages are there to help you make safe choices quickly.

Sharing the news and helping others

This is a new system, and not everyone will understand it immediately. Here are ways your community can support one another:

Helping older generations

• Explain that AusAlert is not spam or a virus: it’s an official emergency system.
• Show how alerts might look and sound on everyday phones.
• Remind them not to ignore it, even if it’s loud or catches them by surprise.

Talking with teenagers and young adults

• Most teens already use smartphones regularly, so focus on why the alerts matter.
• Encourage them to share accurate info with family and friends on social media or group chats.

Provide feedback

The Government will be seeking feedback as the system rolls out. 

Engaging with local emergency services and participating in community trial feedback helps improve AusAlert before it becomes fully operational.

Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the community testing and national test are significant milestones for AusAlert. 

“The Albanese Government is undertaking these tests to ensure the technology performs as expected, and to build community awareness before AusAlert is needed in an actual emergency,” Ms McBain said.

“This is an important project that will help us and emergency services organisations warn people when they are in harm’s way, saving lives and protecting property during a disaster, delivering on a key finding from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. 

“This is a major development in Australia’s emergency communication landscape, and I thank Australians in advance for their cooperation as we move into the launch phase for AusAlert ahead of the next high risk weather season.”

This article was prepared with AI assistance and then carefully reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by the Hope 103.2 Digital Team.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

About the author: Kim is a media and communications professional who specialises in building community and valuable relationships.

Feature image: Canva

As military strikes continue to rock Iran and surrounding countries, it can be difficult to know what’s going on – or how to pray. Open Doors Australia, who serve the persecuted church around the world, offers seven specific prayers.

Open Doors CEO Adam Holland shares about religious persecution faced by Christians in Iran. Ranked as the 10th most dangerous country for Christians, Iran presents a harsh environment for those choosing to follow Christianity, as they often face discrimination and violence. Through this conversation, Adam sheds light on the complexities faced by Christians in Iran and the wider Middle East and calls for prayer and support as the conflict intensifies.

Benjamin is an Iranian Christian who has lived in Sydney for more than a decade. He discussed the anguish he and his church family feel for their relatives and friends in Iran. Benjamin believed God’s word has foretold what is happening in Iran, and he knows God can use the Middle East conflict to bring more Iranian people to his saving Son, Jesus.

Please note, names have been excluded for to protect people’s safety.

The situation is fluid and can be difficult to follow. On Saturday, 28 February, the United States and Israel killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the long-time Supreme Leader of Iran, along with other high-level officials. An Iranian TV presenter announced his death, while the channel aired archive footage marked with a black mourning banner. The country declared 40 days of mourning.

At the same time, videos on social media showed Iranians celebrating the death of the Ayatollah. In other countries around the world, Iranian expatriates and refugees took to the streets in jubilation.

“The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marks a significant and sobering moment in Iran’s history,” an Open Doors analyst and an Iranian Christian said. 

“I cannot ignore that under his leadership, the church in Iran lived for decades under intense pressure, facing restrictions, surveillance, arrests and the constant weight of uncertainty. Many faithful believers endured suffering simply for following Christ.
“This moment is not about revenge or triumph, but about the possibility of a different future,” he said. 

“One where freedom of conscience, dignity and justice are extended to all Iranians, regardless of faith or background. My prayer is that this turning point will open the way for peace, reconciliation and genuine freedom for our nation.”

“The sound is very frightening”

Meanwhile, the strikes continue as the world wonders what will happen with Khamenei out of power. 

“The sound of the explosions is very frightening. The loud fighter jets are carrying out terrifying attacks,” an Iranian Christian living in a town near the capital said. She was able to get a message out to Open Doors partners just before the internet connection was cut off throughout the country.

“However, I believe that God will save me and deliver me from this war.”

Iranians have begun to tape up their windows to resist the force of the strong explosions taking place as they remain indoors in this unstable situation.

The violence has also begun to spread around the region as Iran retaliates against the attacks. 

“We are hearing the sound of explosions and airplanes,” an Iraqi believer in Erbil in northern Iraq said. Another Christian said her house “was shaking” by the explosions this weekend.

Open Doors sources in Erbil report that this morning, Iran has tried to attack the American consulate in Erbil. The attacking drones were shot down before they could hit the consulate.

“We had at least five rockets exploding, and we hear constantly fighter jets above us. We are worried that Iran-backed groups will plan attacks in our region on American targets,” an Open Doors source said.

Iran has also carried out attacks in countries throughout the Arabian Peninsula, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates and Oman, primarily targeting US military sites, Israeli government offices and international shipping areas.

Before midday on 2 March, a Christian living in one of the Arabian Peninsula countries sent this message: “Missiles and sirens close to home. Alerts going off on phones. Windows rattling. We’re going to the shelter, please pray.” We can’t tell you exactly which country this believer lives in because the region is so dangerous for Christians.

While most of Iran’s missiles were intercepted by defense systems, some have hit land, causing demolition, fires and destruction. “We received recurring alerts on our phones, urging us to remain indoors and not to go out except for urgent matters,” another Christian living in the Gulf area shared. 

“The sounds we heard were very intense and scary.”

Impact across the Middle East

Attacks are also happening throughout the Levant. Hezbollah, a political party and paramilitary group in Lebanon and an ally of Iran, sent rockets into Israel, and Israel responded with strikes in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon. According to Syrian sources, an Iranian missile or its remnants have fallen on a residential building in the city of Suwayda, killing five people. Civil air traffic in Syria was also suspended. Iran targeted a US military base in Jordan, and the country has dealt with debris from intercepted attacks.

Due to the rocket attacks from Iran on Israel, many citizens in Israel and Palestine have had to hide in the shelters. 

“We hear rockets and airplanes all the time,” one of our sources in the West Bank said. “The people are upset in the West Bank. Since the Gaza war ended, tourists have come back to the area. This will stop all tourism again, and many Christians depend on tourism for their jobs and income. Please pray for an end to this war and for all politicians to put aside their own interests.”

No one is sure how the situation will resolve or when the war might end. US President Donald Trump suggested the operation against Iran could last four to five weeks or longer, and no one knows who the replacement will be for Ayatollah Khamenei.

Resilience, hope and prayers

But an Open Doors analyst and Iranian believer reminds us that no matter what happens, there is hope. 

“Even in hardship, the [Iranian church] has remained resilient, prayerful and deeply rooted in hope,” he said.

And some believers look forward to the end of the war and pray for a more lasting peace. 

“We are Christian converts who fled Iran because of persecution. Not having any freedom to express and live out our faith, we endured years of displacement and lived as refugees,” one Iranian believer said. 

“We are so hopeful that we would be able to go back to our homeland. May God bring peace and protect the whole Middle East through this time of change for Iran.”

No matter what happens, we know that God is in control. And remarkably, He’s offered us the gift of bringing all of the uncertainty and our hopes and fears to Him in prayer.

Here are just a few ways you can pray right now

1. Prayer for prisoners in Iran

• Pray for the protection of prisoners, that they would not be used as human shields or exploited in times of conflict.

• Ask God to guard their lives, uphold justice and surround them with His mercy and presence.

2. Prayer for pregnant women in Iran

• Pray for mothers who are in the last weeks of pregnancy, facing intense stress and limited access to hospitals and medical care.

• Ask for peace, safe deliveries, protection for both mother and child, and divine provision of medical help where it seems impossible.

3. Prayer for Iranian children living under bombardment

• Lift up children who constantly hear explosions and live in fear.

• Pray for emotional healing, protection over their minds and hearts, and that God would be their refuge and comfort.

4. Prayer for those experiencing economic hardship in Iran

• Pray for families struggling under severe economic pressure.

• Ask God for provision, job opportunities, daily bread and wisdom for leaders to make just and stabilising economic decisions.

5. Prayer for the church and our brothers and sisters in Iran

• Pray for the protection of the Iranian church and all believers in vulnerable regions.

• Ask for strength, endurance, boldness, wisdom and multiplied grace in these challenging times.

• Pray that the church would be a light, a refuge and a source of hope.

6. Prayer for protection in the Middle East

• Pray for God’s protection over civilians in the Middle East and other countries affected by war.

• Ask for an end to violence, protection for the innocent and the establishment of peace.

7. Prayer for Iran – for justice, freedom and unity

• Pray for unity, perseverance, solidarity and wisdom among the people of Iran.

• Ask God to guide the process of seeking justice and freedom, and to protect those standing for righteousness.

Article supplied with thanks to Christian Media & Arts Australia.

About the author: Kim is a media and communications professional who specialises in building community and valuable relationships.

Feature image: Canva

Valentine’s Day comes and goes with very little fanfare for the unmarried, uncoupled or uninterested, but without fail it fills our feeds with content about the reality of modern relationships and what you’re up against if you want a healthy one.

This week a book landed on my desk: a Christian approach to “bringing your romance fantasies into the real world”. Then, I was sent an article on “heterofatalism” (we’ll get to that), got a link to podcaster’s theories on declining birth rates, was reminded having a boyfriend is embarrassing now, and suffered through ads for whatever they’re doing on the new season of Married at First Sight.

The dating world these days really is a complex one. Even in the Christian sphere, agreed upon boundaries of what we’re looking for, how to behave, views on intimacy and the value of marriage itself are seemingly dissolving.

After overcoming the hurdle of meeting someone online or in person, you have to assess whether their framework for dating and relationships is the same as yours: are they a Christian who’s dismissed “traumatic purity culture” or do they still see sex as “sacred”? What gender roles do they support? Do they value monogamy in dating? Are they interested in marriage or is it too traditional for them? Can we just have fun hanging out? You cannot assume anything.

As a church-raised teen, marriage was painted as the pathway to greater purpose, family, sex and experiencing God’s ideal relational framework. If you weren’t married, the implication was you should prepare yourself for an unfinished form of life: childless, untouched and alone.

However, once you reach 25 and don’t have a husband and four kids, there’s a world beyond the one you were told was coming that you can’t ignore and have to figure out how to handle. You find joy in singleness. You find some God-fearing women chose solo IVF, adoption or fostering to have kids. That not all “Christian” men and women are nice people who make ideal partners. That independence isn’t horrible, and that in our Western society a spouse may help in having financial security but isn’t a necessity. We haven’t even touched on the variety of views on sex.

It’s a newfound awareness that can work against us: if we don’t “have to” have marriage anymore, do we still want it?

Yes, there’s still the predominant norm of school, study, job, partner, kids, holiday but there’s a growing “rebellion” against that and less judgement allowed of those who defect. We can be lazy in dating because, well, what does it matter if it goes nowhere?

Which brings me to “heterofatalism” – a phenomenon contributing to aforementioned defection.

The term expands on scholar Asa Sersin’s original definition of “heteropessimism” reflecting the resigned experience of – largely women – dealing with their coexisting desire for a male partner and disappointment in the process of finding one. 

A few things need to be addressed here:

Can we ditch the idea that wanting a relationship is “embarrassing”?

You don’t need to overcome your very human, very God-given need for connection, community and companionship. It doesn’t have to be found in a romantic context, but it’s OK if you want it to be found there. Total self-sufficiency is not our end goal.

In “heterofatalism” there’s a read-between-the-lines suggestion that men are dropping the ball in the relationship equation.

I don’t want to exacerbate that narrative. For many reasons men – especially young ones – are having their roles in society redefined which, at its best, opens up space for inclusion and reflection but, at its worst, destabilises confidence and identity. Some guys do get things wrong in relationships. But us women do too.

As much as we’d like to believe these attitudes don’t affect the church and dating in Christianity is different, sadly they do and it isn’t.

Our feeds are filled with the same commentary, users on our apps ghost just as much, and we’re dating people who hear the same stories everyone else does about the changing relational landscape.

While we have the benefit of hope in a God who “ordained all our days before one of them came to be”, it also means we have bigger questions about why we haven’t met someone yet.

Unlike our “defeated secular counterparts” we can’t just blame “a terrible dating scene” for the husband we pray for still not being in our lives, or why one friend can meet their partner online in months and you can’t. Our answer to the (dumb, unnecessary and backhanded compliment) question of, “How are you still single?” feels dramatically existential.

We have to balance the fight in our minds between knowing it’s OK to be single, given some of the greatest biblical figures were – including Jesus himself – with the fact that God tells us He’ll grant us the desires of our heart and that for many that’s still marriage.

We live in a wait we don’t know will end: will our story be one of finding someone, or of accepting that not all prayers are answered in the way we want?

There’s no way of knowing for sure, and if you don’t see an end date to when you have to find this person by – first weddings happen at 50 friends – our hope only expires when we choose to let it.

What we do have control over is how we wait.

Will you engage in the life you currently have while you press forward in building another one?

Will you delight in the coupling of friends while you’re still single?

Will you commit to seeing purpose in what’s in your hands without wishing for what could be?

Don’t believe the lie that a single life isn’t fulfilling or rich with God’s goodness, but don’t also fall into the trap of idolising self-sufficiency. You have God-given inherent value just as you are, but it is OK to want someone romantically to share your life with.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Canva

Dreams are so bizarre. Our minds have these entire experiences that are worked out while we sleep, consolidating memories, processing the day and sometimes, giving us what feels like divine insight into the challenges of our waking hours.

But how do we distinguish between regular brain function and spiritual revelation?

For most of her life, media entrepreneur and filmmaker Paige Collins thought her vivid dreams were just part of how her mind worked.

“I dream almost every night,” Paige said.

“That’s been a very normal thing for me my entire life.”

Everything shifted about eight years ago, when she woke from a dream to the sound of her own voice praying.

“I was asking God to give me an interpretation for what it was that I had just dreamed [and] that was the moment that I realised my dreams might not just be mind-clutter,” Paige said.

That moment marked the beginning of what Paige now calls being “a God dreamer.” Before then, she hadn’t considered dreams as spiritual.

“I grew up in the church, but I didn’t grow up in a church community that really emphasised the supernatural,” Paige said.

“He’s going to give people business [ideas in dreams], he’s going to give them creative works, he’s going to speak into our personal lives as well as our professional lives in this way.

“I feel very strongly about that. And if we’re not listening, we might miss some things.”

Since Paige began journalling her dreams and praying through them, “God just began to take me through a season of training in my own dream language” using scripture as an anchor.

“God speaks in dreams throughout scripture,” Paige said.

“He gives warnings [and] He gives really beautiful prophetic images.”

Having that Biblical grounding is vital, so you know it’s God shaping how you interpret the dream.

“We have to allow the Lord to bring the ultimate revelation and clarity,” Paige said.

“We don’t need to jump to conclusions.”

Over time, Paige believes God teaches each person how He communicates with them, revealing things about calling and destiny, but also personal wellbeing.

“There are very personal conversations happening between us and Him,” Paige said.

“Some of the most important dreams in my life, although they were a bit uncomfortable, brought about healing.

“They showed me unknown things I needed to deal with, and I think anything that’s going to lead me into intimacy with the Lord is something I want to say yes to.”

Paige Collins’ Awaken Dream Journal is out now.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

About the Author: Laura Bennett is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.

Feature image: Supplied

Australians will head to the poll booths on May 3, 2025.

And with less than a month until Election Day, political parties are well into a fierce battle over key issues such as cost of living, healthcare and climate action.

The announcement

At a press conference in Sydney, Albanese highlighted the significance of this upcoming election, urging Australians to think about their future.

“This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut,” he said. “That is the choice, that is your choice. Only Labor is acting on the cost of living. Only a vote for Labor will keep your wages growing.”

The response

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s opening response speech outlined his plans.

“Under Labor, Australia’s had the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world,” he said. “Labor’s economic policies and waste and spending have increased the cost of living for everyday Australians.

“Australians are now paying on average 18 per cent more for rent, 30 per cent more for groceries and over 30 per cent more for power and gas.”

How to vote

As is customary, voting in the Australian Federal Election is compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and over. Australians will need to visit their designated polling place between 8am and 6pm on May 3, 2025. Voters will be required to cast their votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

For those who are unable to vote in person on Election Day, alternative options are available. Early voting will be available from April 22, 2025, and voters can also request a postal vote if they are unable to attend a polling place on the day. More information at aec.gov.au/voting.

Additionally, Australians living abroad can participate by voting at Australian embassies and consulates through overseas voting. More information at aec.gov.au/overseas.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has urged all eligible voters to ensure they are enrolled ahead of the election and to familiarise themselves with the voting process to ensure their vote is counted. Visit aec.gov.au to enrol, or to check and update your enrolment.

If you require additional support when you vote, visit aec.gov.au/assistance.

“Vote based on your Christian values” says ACL

Faith leaders say it’s important that Australian Christians take time to pray in the leadup to any election, and to think about their vote through the lens of their faith.

“Our nation so desperately needs [Christian values] right now,” said Australian Christian Lobby CEO Michelle Pearse. “The best thing you can do is be informed, and especially coming up to election time, you’ve got to make sure you vote based on your Christian values.”

Visit aec.gov.au for more.

Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.

Feature image: Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

About the Author: Joni Boyd is a writer, based in the Hawkesbury Region of NSW. She is passionate about the power of stories shared, to transform lives.