Sixteen new emergency telephones are about to be installed, all of which are lit up after dark by blue lights.
The intercom-style phones, imported from the United States, allow callers to push a button and speak directly to the Campus Watch office, which is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Another feature is a wide-area emergency broadcast system (Webs) capability, enabling the university to relay messages in case of fire, civil defence emergencies or natural disasters.
The 14 wall-mounted units and two 400kg free-standing units cost just over $100,000 to buy and install, student services director David Richardson said yesterday.
They replace 11 old-style phones installed 14 years ago and now unable to be repaired because parts are no longer available.
Mr Richardson said even though more people owned cellphones these days, the existing emergency phones were used up to 10 times a month.
Campus visitors would also be encouraged to use the new phones for general inquiries or if they needed help with directions.
The new phones are expected to be operating by the start of the second semester next month.