Registering OS Travel with SmartTraveller - don't they do that any more?

[RSD]

I don't know whether I'm having a seniors moment or what - but I'm damned if I can find the spot on the SmartTraveller website where you register your OS travel plans so as they know roughly where you will be if the SHTF - don't they take those registrations anymore? Or is it just that I can't seem to see it but its there?

 

[SYD]

smarttraveller.gov.au has been enhanced…?

 

[RSD]

smarttraveller.gov.au has been enhanced…?

LOL!! Maybe Albo has sold the website to Qantas in order to start repairing the budget!

 

[SYD]

Funny, it was on my “To Do“ list to register prior to going to Europe in Mar thru May but never got around to it.

Maybe they’ve got the work experience kids that did the DPD back in to redo the outbound registration…?

 

[RooFlyer]

I think this enhancement happened about 4-5 years ago, didn't it? I recall thinking "that's a dumb thing to do - how do they get in touch, or even know we are here, in the event of an overseas emergency" and discussion on one of the boards here.

 

[RSD]

I think this enhancement happened about 4-5 years ago, didn't it? I recall thinking "that's a dumb thing to do - how do they get in touch, or even know we are here, in the event of an overseas emergency" and discussion on one of the boards here.

I think I registered for my last requal in the U.S. back in 2019 - but memory is a bit fuzzy on that as so much has happened in between

 

[SYD]

There was the ability to register during the Covid border closure if you were stuck overseas and trying to return. But given the broad “Do not travel” advisory at the same time perhaps they possibly removed one to support the other?

 

[harvyk]

I vaguely remember a few years ago that they removed the ability to register.

I don't think many people were using it, plus getting in contact with people overseas has never been easier, so the requirement to have addresses / emergency os phone numbers registered just isn't there anymore.

 

[vetrade]

Yes, it was a means to get in touch with you, but I thought it also served the purpose of having a time line and route for your travels in the event you went missing OS or your family lost contact.
Since all the data was entered by the traveller, and usually never needed to be accessed, I can't imagine it was a particularly costly or onerous feature to maintain

 

[odysseus]

2019: https://www.escape.com.au/news/head...e/news-story/4f78b0013aac0ef58010c2e66df35c9c

Here's the new site, only currently open for Ukraine, Russia and Belarus : Crisis Registration Portal

 

[oz_mark]

It was changed when the relaunched the site in 2019

Smartraveller being re-launched. Re-subscription required

Just got an e-mail from Smartraveller announcing that their web site is being re-launched in November but subscribers won't be transitioned onto it. You'll have to re-subscribe.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Daver6]

I think this enhancement happened about 4-5 years ago, didn't it? I recall thinking "that's a dumb thing to do - how do they get in touch, or even know we are here, in the event of an overseas emergency" and discussion on one of the boards here.

We've all got tracking chips in us now thanks to the Covid vaccinations. Albo would just give his mate Mr Gates a call to find out where we are

 

[RSD]

I vaguely remember a few years ago that they removed the ability to register.

I don't think many people were using it, plus getting in contact with people overseas has never been easier, so the requirement to have addresses / emergency os phone numbers registered just isn't there anymore.

Yes and no - I was in an overseas country a few years ago when a massive earthquake hit - all the mobile phone services were knocked out in seconds and so nobody could contact me - but DFAT mobilised a team to the area and were able to locate me relatively quickly as I had registered which hotel I was staying in. I am left wondering too how well mobile phone services could be relied upon if something like another Boxing Day tsunami happened...