The Australian High Commission Emergency Consular Services phone number has changed.

The new 0808 5 890 165 number has been in operation for more than a year.

The old 0500 890 165 number, along with all other 0500 numbers, ceased to exist on 5 June 2017. Closure of the 0500 range was announced by Ofcom three years earlier on 3 June 2014.

Unfortunately, their website, Facebook and Twitter continue to promote the old and now defunct phone number.

http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/consular.html
http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/cons2.html
http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/Conshrsfees.html

https://facebook.com/AustralianHighCommissionUK/photos/1443729379267819/

https://twitter.com/AusHouseLondon/status/873132578034913283

and others.

More than two years after their new 0808 5 number came into operation and some six weeks after their old 0500 number ceased to exist, the Australian High Commission in London has finally updated their website to show the new 0808 5890 165 number for their Emergency Consular Services line.

http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/consular.html
http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/cons2.html
http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/cons1432.html
http://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/Conshrsfees.html

They have also removed the statement that the new 0808 5 number is free only from landlines in recognition that these calls are also free-to-caller from mobile phones.

Someone now needs to have a word with their Twitter and Facebook teams as they still seem unaware of the new number.

Ian01 wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2017 at 10:15am:

Someone now needs to have a word with their Twitter and Facebook teams as they still seem unaware of the new number.

They seem to have learnt from the last time they were closed and posted on Facebook (your link) as they now have not said Free to call from the 020 number: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianHighCommissionUK/photos/a.1377217762585648.1073741829.1377166932590731/1455230214784402/?type=3&theater

The https://www.facebook.com/AustralianHighCommissionUK/photos/1443729379267819/ page originally carried the old 0500 number, the one that had ceased to exist some four days before the message was posted. About a week later they amended that post to show the London 020 7379 4334 number along with the false message that calls are free.

The London 020 7379 4334 number is their Mon-Fri office hours number. It is closed on weekends and on both British and Australian Bank Holidays.

Their 24-hour emergency line is 0808 5890 165. This is a free call from landlines and mobiles.

I also e-mailed them but only got an automated reply...

maybe we can live in hope, or not!  :o

They now appear to have updated the Consular links provided by Ian01

and they appear to be on the case on Facebook.