Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has launched the new Smartraveller advertising campaign to encourage Australians to make better informed travel choices.

The new advertisements feature Natalie Hensby, who was injured in a high speed boat crash on her way to a Full Moon Party in Thailand.

Natalie’s story provides a real-life example of the value of the Smartraveller message.

Natalie had registered her contact details with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and bought travel insurance before she left. These steps didn’t just save her more than $100,000 in medical costs, they saved her life.

With Australians now making almost nine million overseas trips a year, the Smartraveller campaign is more important than ever.

Most Australians travel safely and take sensible precautions. Some accidents are unavoidable. All Australians travelling overseas, however, need to be as self-reliant as possible, and seek consular help as a last resort.