Department of Health

How Personal Alert Victoria works

Personal Alert Victoria provides emergency assistance via a pendant-based system with round-the-clock support from trained staff.

PAV Assessor online training

Personal Alert Victoria clients wear a lightweight pendant around either their neck or wrist. The button on the pendant activates a receiver unit.

The receiver unit either sits next to the client's telephone and is plugged into a power point and the telephone line, or, is plugged into a power point only and uses the mobile telephone network.

When the pendant button is pushed, the receiver unit automatically dials the PAV monitoring centre. Trained staff at the monitoring centre respond to calls 24 hours a day, every day.

Nominated contacts

Each client must nominate 2 to 4 contacts who can reach them within 30 minutes. Nominated contacts can be a relative, a friend, or a neighbour.

PAV response service

Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) clients who don't have suitable family or friends to act as nominated contacts can register with a PAV Response Service.

The PAV Response Service responds when the client presses their emergency pendant button, or has not confirmed their daily wellbeing and cannot be contacted.

The PAV Response Service can only be a client's first or second contact.

Assistance provided by the PAV Response Service can include:

  • Personal care during an illness
  • Guiding a client up from a fall
  • Helping the client to bed after a minor fall
  • Help with mobility problems (e.g., a wheelchair that is stuck)
  • Support and reassurance after a fright
  • Help if the client is locked out of their home.

Daily calls

The receiver also has a daily call button. Clients press the daily call button by a set time each day to let the monitoring centre know they are alright. It also confirms the equipment is working correctly.

If clients don't press the daily call button in time, monitoring centre staff telephone to check on the client. If they cannot speak to the client, nominated contacts will be called to help establish the client’s wellbeing.

Activating the alarm

Clients activate the alarm by pressing the button on the pendant. When a client activates the alarm, monitoring centre staff will call and speak with the client through the receiver and determine the kind of assistance needed. If necessary, staff will:

  • Telephone nominated contacts or PAV response service and/or
  • Contact emergency services.

Reviewed 03 May 2024

Health.vic

More information

Contact details

Wellbeing and Community Support team

AACServdev@dhhs.vic.gov.au
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