Annual emergency drills at UNSW: What to expect

Learn about the various emergency drills undertaken at UNSW every year and what actions to take.

Published on the 22 July 2026

Ambulances and EMTs at the UNSW Kensington campus

Annual emergency drills? What's going on?

First off, don't be alarmed; this is completely normal!

As part of UNSW's continual effort to ensure the safety of the campus community, the Emergency Management Unit conducts emergency preparedness exercises and drills in every building on the Kensington campus throughout the year.

These exercises can include trial evacuations and lockdowns across UNSW buildings to ensure that we, as a community, are collectively ready in the event of an actual emergency.

Why?

That is a great question. So these drills and exercises are designed to ensure that UNSW meets legislative requirements. Beyond that, the overall aim is to contribute towards building a safer UNSW community. Emergencies can happen anytime and may include fire, chemical spills, gas leaks, medical emergencies, bomb threats or physical threats.

You never know what may happen, so it's best to be prepared for any scenario. The drills and exercises will help us all by:

Allowing staff and students to learn and understand what actions to take during an emergency
Reinforcing awareness of emergency procedures and response roles
Testing alarm and PA systems to ensure they are fully operational
Identifying opportunities to improve emergency response capability
Recreating scenarios safely to ensure that, in a real emergency, everyone is prepared to respond quickly, safely and confidently.

What to expect during these emergency drills

Exercises will take place at various times across the Kensington campus during the year. The exact dates and times for each UNSW building will be managed locally by the Chief Warden, who will liaise with key building stakeholders to coordinate activities.

Don't worry, students will receive the appropriate communications ahead of time as a heads-up for what to expect when an exercise is scheduled.

Before each exercise begins, a PA announcement will clearly advise all building occupants that an exercise is underway. This announcement will confirm that the scenario is a drill and that everyone in the building is required to participate. Treat these exercises as if they were a real emergency, as it is your responsibility to help contribute to the safety of the UNSW community.

During the exercise, occupants must follow instructions from:

Emergency Coordinators
Wardens
UNSW Security
Other personnel leading the exercise

If you have any questions, concerns or support needs relating to an upcoming exercise, please contact your building’s Chief Warden or email emergency@unsw.edu.au.

Email UNSW emergency services

Understand emergency procedures