Outage forces triple zero operators to go pen and paper
A power outage in Victoria has disrupted emergency services, forcing Triple Zero operators to use pen and paper after their computer-aided dispatch system failed.
📋 Key Points
- At 12:30 am on Wednesday, an unplanned power outage affected the computer-aided dispatch system for Triple Zero Victoria, disrupting emergency call processing.
- Dispatchers in Victoria, Australia, reverted to traditional pen and paper methods to handle emergency calls following the outage, highlighting vulnerabilities in digital systems.
- The outage raised concerns about the reliability of emergency response systems, as operators scrambled to maintain service without their usual digital tools.
- Emergency services in Victoria are now assessing the impact of the outage, which underscores the critical role of technology in public safety operations.
💡 Why It Matters
This incident highlights the reliance on digital systems for emergency services and the potential risks associated with outages. Affected dispatchers faced challenges in ensuring public safety, raising questions about contingency plans. Moving forward, it will be essential for emergency services to evaluate their systems and implement strategies to mitigate such disruptions.
📊 Event Details
This story is being tracked across 11 news sources.
Event ID: eng-11053132
Category: Technology → News
Last Updated: October 14, 2025