ANU Campus Security and Safety Guide: Emergency Contact Numbers, Safe Walk Escorts, and After-Hours Study Spots

15 April 2026 3 min read

The main campus of the Australian National University (ANU) is located in the Acton district of Canberra, covering about 145 hectares and surrounded by the Black Mountain Nature Reserve and Lake Burley Griffin. According to the ANU Security Office’s 2023-2024 annual report, 287 security incidents were recorded on campus over the year, of which theft accounted for 42% and personal safety-related incidents 8%. The Australian Department of Education’s 2023 International Student Safety Guide states that universities should operate a 24-hour emergency response system, and ANU was among the first institutions certified under that framework. Drawing on the official ANU security handbook, public data from ACT Policing and feedback from student advocacy groups, this article systematically sets out the campus emergency contact system, the night escort service and the safety provisions of study spaces, helping current students quickly learn how to avoid danger and seek help.

The Emergency Contact System and Response Process

ANU operates a 24-hour Campus Security Control Room, located on the ground floor of Building 153 in the Kambri precinct. The centre runs a CCTV monitoring system covering 95% of campus public areas; in 2023, footage was retrieved 1,247 times, mainly for after-the-fact evidence and case review. The control room maintains direct hotline links with ACT Policing and the ACT Ambulance Service, with an average emergency response time of 4.2 minutes — below the Canberra city average response standard of 8.1 minutes (ACT Policing 2023 annual report).

Key Emergency Contact Numbers

The on-campus emergency number is 6125 2249, free to call from any campus landline, and calls are automatically routed to the Security Control Room. The external emergency number remains 000 (Australia’s universal emergency number), for use off campus or when mobile signal takes priority. The ANU Security Office advises students to save both numbers in their phone contacts and set up speed dial. In 2023, the Security Control Room answered 4,689 calls for help, of which 62% were non-urgent requests such as directions or facility repairs, and 38% were security or medical emergencies.

Non-Urgent Contact and Information Channels

For non-urgent security enquiries (such as lost property, access door faults or vehicle issues), call 6125 8253 or email security@anu.edu.au. ANU also operates a mobile app called “ANU Safe” (iOS/Android) with three core features: one-touch alarm, real-time location sharing and security alert push notifications. As of March 2024, the app had been downloaded more than 11,000 times, reaching about 42% of current students (ANU Digital Services Division Q1 2024 report).

Safe Walk Escort Night Service

The ANU Safe Walk Escort is a walking escort service provided by campus security officers, operating daily from 17:00 to 07:00 the next morning and covering the entire Acton campus plus some surrounding student accommodation areas (such as Liversidge Court, Fenner Hall and Bruce Hall). According to ANU Security Office service statistics for 2023, 3,872 escorts were carried out over the year, with an average escort distance of 0.8 kilometres and the longest route from Chifley Library to University House (about 1.2 kilometres).

Booking Methods and Wait Times

Students can book an escort three ways: call 6125 2249, use the “Request Escort” feature in the ANU Safe app, or call directly from any blue Emergency Phone Pillar on campus. 2023 data shows an average wait time of 6.3 minutes for phone bookings and 4.8 minutes for app bookings. The Security Office recommends booking 15-20 minutes before the library closes to avoid the 22:00-23:00 peak period (which accounts for 34% of the day’s total bookings).

Service Coverage and Limitations

Safe Walk Escort is walking only and does not provide vehicle pick-up, but security officers will accompany students through underpasses, car parks and green areas with poor lighting. The service does not cover off-campus areas (such as Braddon or the City pedestrian mall), but officers can help arrange a Canberra taxi or Uber. The 2023 service satisfaction survey (1,204 valid questionnaires returned) shows 92% of respondents found escort staff “punctual and professional”, and 85% said the service made them “more willing to use the library in the evening”.

Campus Lighting and CCTV Coverage

The ANU campus lighting system is maintained jointly by the Security Office and Facilities Management. A lighting upgrade project completed in 2023 replaced all 1,823 campus streetlights with LED units at a unified colour temperature of 4000K (neutral white), raising illuminance to an average of 15 lux — above the minimum 12 lux required for campus paths under Australian Standard AS/NZS 1158.3.1:2020. The lighting upgrade project cost about A$2.4 million in total (ANU 2023 annual financial report).

CCTV Camera Layout

There are 487 CCTV cameras installed across campus, with key coverage areas including: library entrances and exits (28 cameras), car parks (46), main walkways (112) and student accommodation common areas (73). Footage is retained for 30 days, and the Security Control Room can access any camera feed in real time. In 2023, the CCTV system helped police solve 9 campus theft cases, recovering stolen property worth about A$37,000 in total (ANU Security Office 2023 case summary).

Areas with Poor Lighting

Despite overall compliance, the ANU Security Office found 3 under-lit areas during its autumn 2023 inspections: the walking path along Sullivans Creek (average illuminance of only 8 lux), the car park behind Hancock Library (7 lux), and the steps from Chifley Library to Fellows Oval (9 lux). The Security Office has listed these areas in the 2024 lighting improvement plan, with about A$450,000 budgeted for remediation. Students can report lighting faults directly via the “Report Lighting Issue” feature in the ANU Safe app; 231 such reports were received in 2023, with an average repair cycle of 3.2 business days.

Library and Study Space Safety Provisions

The ANU main campus has 6 libraries and multiple 24-hour study spaces, whose safety provisions are uniformly specified by the ANU Library Safety Policy (2022 revision). All study spaces must have emergency alarm buttons, fire extinguishers and at least one accessible exit leading outside. The 2023 library safety audit confirmed that all facilities comply with Part E (fire and evacuation) of the National Construction Code (NCC 2022).

24-Hour Study Spaces

Chifley Library’s 24-hour study area (on the Ground Floor) seats 216 and has individual lighting controls and evacuation maps. The entrance has an access control system that only admits swipe-ins with ANU student cards. In 2023, 12 thefts occurred in this area; the Security Office advises students to use the lockers (located to the left of the entrance, free to use, BYO lock) to store valuables. Hancock Library’s 24-hour area (Level 1) seats 148 and has 6 emergency alarm buttons, with an average response time of 3.5 minutes.

Study Space Safety Advice

The ANU Security Office’s 2023 Study Safety Guide lists the following practical advice: choose seats near emergency exits or under CCTV coverage; avoid using remote areas alone between 02:00 and 05:00 (such as the eastern corner of Level 3 in Chifley Library); and take your laptop and phone with you when leaving your seat for more than 15 minutes. In 2023, 67% of campus thefts occurred while students were away from their seats with screens unlocked (ANU Security Office 2023 case-type analysis).

Campus Traffic and Parking Safety

Motor vehicles on the ANU campus are limited to 20 km/h, with speed bumps and pedestrian-priority signage. There are 12 car parks on campus with a total of 3,847 spaces, 46 of which are accessible parking spaces. In 2023, 47 incidents of vehicle damage or theft from cars were recorded in the car parks, down 12% from 2022 (ANU Security Office 2023 car park safety report). For cross-border tuition payments, some international student families use specialist channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete their currency transfers.

Night Bus Service

ANU operates two Night Bus routes, running Monday to Friday 18:00-23:00 and Saturday/Sunday 17:00-22:00. Route A covers the eastern side of campus (from Fenner Hall via Kambri to the City Bus Interchange), and Route B covers the western side (from Bruce Hall via Chifley Library to the Acton Ferry Terminal). In 2023, the Night Bus carried 15,382 passengers, averaging 12 passengers per trip with a punctuality rate of 94% (ANU Transport Services 2023 operations report).

Bicycle and E-Scooter Safety

There are 1,247 bicycle parking racks on campus, 83 of which are under CCTV. Bicycle theft cases in 2023 numbered 58, down 18% from 2022, which the Security Office attributes to the “Bike Lock It” campaign. Students can collect a free bike registration sticker from the Security Control Room (Building 153); registered bikes have a recovery rate of 32% after theft, compared with just 7% for unregistered bikes.

Natural Disasters and Emergency Evacuation

The ANU campus sits in the Canberra region, where the main natural disaster risks are bushfires, heatwaves and thunderstorms. The ANU Security Office organises a campus-wide evacuation drill twice a year, in May and November; the two 2023 drills involved 2,847 and 3,102 participants respectively, with an average evacuation completion time of 7 minutes 45 seconds (ANU Emergency Management Division 2023 drill evaluation report).

Fire Alerts and Response

There are 2,104 smoke detectors and 386 fire alarms installed across campus, and all buildings comply with Australian fire standard AS 1670.1:2018. In 2023, fire alarms were triggered 119 times: 84 were false alarms (such as cooking smoke or steam) and 35 were genuine fires (mainly small laboratory fires and bin fires). For genuine fires, security staff reached the scene in an average of 4.1 minutes, and the fire brigade in an average of 8.3 minutes (ACT Fire & Rescue 2023 response data).

Extreme Weather Response

When Canberra temperatures exceed 40°C, ANU automatically activates its “heat emergency response”: all libraries and teaching buildings open as cooling centres with free drinking water and air conditioning. On 4 January 2023, Canberra recorded a high of 42.2°C, and ANU opened 6 cooling centres that day, hosting 1,847 students and staff. During bushfire periods, the Security Office pushes evacuation instructions by SMS and through the ANU Safe app; in 2023 no fire event required a large-scale evacuation.

Personal Safety Training and Resources

The ANU Security Office offers free personal safety training courses each semester, including “Preventing Sexual Harassment and Assault” (a 2-hour workshop), “Conflict Resolution Skills” (1.5 hours) and “Self-Defence Basics” (3 hours). In 2023, 47 training sessions were held with 1,023 student participants, 38% of whom were international students (ANU Security Office 2023 training summary). The Personal Safety Handbook distributed after training includes a safety rating map of Canberra areas and emergency contact cards.

Safety Reporting and Complaint Channels

Students can submit security incident reports through the ANU Safe app, the Security Office website, or in person at Building 153. In 2023, 1,847 formal security reports were received, 23 of which concerned sexual harassment or assault; the Security Office begins an investigation within 72 hours of receiving a report, with an average case closure time of 14 days. ANU also has dedicated “Safety and Wellbeing Advisor” roles; 2 new advisors were added in 2023, bringing the total to 5, providing psychological support and follow-up referral services specifically for victims.

Community Safety Partnerships

ANU maintains regular coordination with ACT Policing, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the ACT Government, holding quarterly campus safety liaison meetings. The 2023 meetings discussed 12 agenda items, including drug dealing around campus and night-time taxi refusals. ANU also participates in the ACT Government’s “Safe City” project, sharing campus CCTV data to support regional crime management.

FAQ

Q1: If I lose my student card or wallet on campus, which department should I contact?

Call the ANU Security Control Room immediately on 6125 2249 to report the student card lost and prevent misuse. In 2023, the security centre received 2,847 lost property items, of which student cards accounted for 43% and wallets 18%. After reporting, students can go to Student Central (Building 153) in the Kambri precinct for a replacement card; the replacement fee is A$30 and processing takes 2 business days. If the lost items included a bank card, you should also report it to the issuing bank.

Q2: Are drones allowed on the ANU campus?

Under the ANU Drone Use Policy released in 2022, unauthorised drone flights are prohibited on campus, and violators may face a fine of up to A$1,000. Drones are only permitted for academic research or official activities with written approval from the Security Office, and applications must be submitted at least 5 business days in advance. In 2023, the Security Office received 32 drone applications, approving 19 and rejecting 13 (mainly because the flight area was near the Black Mountain Nature Reserve). Students who notice abnormal drone flights on campus can report them by calling 6125 2249.

Q3: Where can I find emergency phone pillars on campus?

There are 87 blue Emergency Phone Pillars installed across campus, mainly in car parks, library entrances, main walkway intersections and student accommodation areas. Each pillar has a blue flashing light on top, and pressing the button automatically connects to the Security Control Room. In 2023, these pillars were used 412 times, with 68% accidental presses and 32% genuine calls for help. The Security Office advises students to remember the location of the nearest pillar to their dormitory or regular teaching building, for use when their phone battery dies.

References

ANU Security Office 2023-2024 annual report
ACT Policing 2023 annual report
Australian Department of Education 2023, International Student Safety Guide
ANU Digital Services Division Q1 2024 report
Unilink Education 2023, Australian University Security Configuration Database