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Queensland State Emergency Service

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Queensland State Emergency Service
The badge of the Queensland State Emergency Service
Agency overview
Formed11 December 1975
Preceding agency
  • Queensland Civil Defence Organisation
Jurisdiction Queensland
HeadquartersNundah, Queensland, Australia
Employees7 regions
19 areas
73 units
337 groups
6,000 members
Annual budgetA$60M (2024)[1]
Minister responsible
Agency executives
  • Steve Gollschewski, Commissioner
  • Mark Armstrong, Chief Officer
Parent agencyQueensland Police Service
Key document
WebsiteSES website
QPS Facebook page

The State Emergency Service (SES) in Queensland, Australia is a volunteer-based organisation of the Queensland Government and forms part of the Queensland Police Service (QPS), assisting with disaster management as an emergency services auxiliary.

The current head of the SES is Chief Officer Mark Armstrong.

History

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1970s

From its beginning in 1961 until November 1973, the Queensland Civil Defence Organisation (QCDO) was set up to deal with emergencies in the event of a nuclear war. It took no part in natural disaster operations other than operations following Cyclone Althea in December 1971. In November 1973, a tornado caused considerable damage in the Brisbane area and the QCDO was activated to assist in disaster relief. The QCDO saw a much larger involvement in natural disasters during the 1974 Brisbane flood.[2]

In 1975, the State Government introduced the State Counter-Disaster Organisation Act 1975, which was proclaimed on 11 December 1975. The Act established two organisations, the State Counter-Disaster Organisation (SCDO), and the State Emergency Service (SES).[3]

In accordance with section 14 of the Act, the SES was established because there was a need for a service that was capable of dealing with natural disasters, separate to a civil defence role.[4][5]

State Emergency Service training at Bulimba, Brisbane River, circa 1976
2000s

During 2002–03 the Department of Emergency Services undertook a comprehensive review of the State Counter-Disaster Organisation Act 1975 in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. The review resulted in the development of the Disaster Management Act 2003, which commenced by proclamation on 31 March 2004. Following legislation updates on 21 May 2014 the SES was now established under the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.

The Act maintained many elements of the existing system established under the State Counter-Disaster Organisation Act, while adding contemporary elements such as a focus on comprehensive disaster management, which includes disaster mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

2010s

In 2011, the SES was a recipient of the Queensland Greats Awards.[6]

2020s

In October 2022, following a review by State Disaster Coordinator Steve Gollschewski, it was announced the QFES would be dissolved in June 2024, resulting in the largest reform of emergency services in Queensland since 1990. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service along with the Rural Fire Service would form the Queensland Fire Department, with a new central headquarters.[7][8] On Monday 3 June 2024 the SES was transitioned to the Queensland Police Service, and along with a newly created Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ), were made part of the Queensland emergency services; in accordance with the State Emergency Service Act 2024 and Marine Rescue Queensland Act 2024 respectively.[7][9][10][11]

On 25 September 2024, the organisation moved from its headquarters at Kedron to a new headquarters at 1231 Sandgate Road, Nundah, co-sharing with Marine Rescue Queensland.[12]

Role

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The SES is a volunteer-based community-located emergency support service, providing emergency and rescue services in times of natural disasters, and other emergencies.[11] The main roles are preparing for, and responding to different type of emergencies and disasters from a local level to a national disaster much like the 2010–2011 Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi.

Units are established at local government level, to provide emergency support functions to local communities. These units have separate groups established, depending on population and geographical needs. At present,[when?] there are 337 SES groups. The SES is designed to empower people to help themselves and others in their community in times of emergency and disaster.[citation needed] The basic concept is one of self-help and mutual assistance within each community.

The SES are trained and equipped to deal with emergencies like:[citation needed]

  • Cyclones and storms
  • Floods
  • Urban search and rescue
  • Emergency traffic management
  • Vertical rescue
  • Road crash rescue
  • Searches for missing persons/land searches
  • Incident management
  • Community education
  • Agency support

Leadership

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The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of SES Chief Officer.

Period served Name Notes
5 February 2024 – present Mark Armstrong First-ever appointed Chief Officer.[13] He is also a brigadier in the Australian Army.[14][15]

Ranks

[edit]
Community
member		 Field operations
member		 Senior field
operations member		 Leading field
operations member		 Deputy
group leader		 Group leader Deputy
local controller		 Local controller
SES officer
Grade One		 SES officer
Grade Two		 Area controller Executive
manager		 Regional director Chief Officer

Honours and awards

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Members may be eligible for Australian and Queensland Honours.

SES medals and ribbons are worn in accordance with the strict order of precedence below, from centre to right. The award with the highest precedence is worn closest to the centre of the chest and on the top row of ribbon bars when more than four awards are worn. Members are only eligible for one medal, not both.[16]

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Medal Awarded for 10 years service, a clasp is added every 10 years following.
SES Meritorious Service Medal Awarded for 10 years service, a clasp is added every 5 years following.
Citations

Citations are worn centrally, 5 mm above the nameplate on the right breast pocket of service shirts, tunics and coats. Citation order of precedence is:[16]

2010–2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation Awarded for service during one or more natural disasters: Cyclone Tasha, Cyclone Yasi, and 2010–11 Queensland floods
G20 Citation Awarded for service during the 2014 G20 Brisbane summit
XXI Commonwealth Games Citation Awarded for service during the XXI Commonwealth Games 2018
SES Citation Awarded for service during the transition to QPS on 1 June 2024

See also

[edit]
  • State Emergency Service

References

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  1. ^ "Bills to shape new era of disaster and emergency services for Queensland". The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Flood Blueprint". Noosa News. Vol. 6, no. 10. Queensland, Australia. 14 February 1974. p. 14. Retrieved 21 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "History". Queensland State Emergency Service. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  4. ^ "State Emergency Service". Noosa News. Vol. 6, no. 26. Queensland, Australia. 20 June 1974. p. 7. Retrieved 21 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Queensland State Emergency Service". Torres News. Vol. Q, no. 41. Queensland, Australia. 14 October 1975. p. 7. Retrieved 21 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "2011 Queensland Greats recipients". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. ^ a b "QFES, SES To Split Up". southburnett.com.au. 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  8. ^ "New Fire Department to call Albion home in 2025". miragenews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Disaster and Emergency Services Reform". qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  10. ^ "New era for state emergency and marine rescue services starts today". Ministerial Statements. The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b "A warm welcome to SES and MRQ". myPolice Queensland Police News. The State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service). 4 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  12. ^ "New State Headquarters for State Emergency Service and Marine Rescue Queensland". Media statements. The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet). 25 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  13. ^ "First-ever dedicated Chief Officer announced for Queensland's SES". The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Mark Armstrong Biography". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  15. ^ BATCH, Cath (14 December 2023). "Legacy of excellence set to continue". Defence. Australian Government (Department of Defence). Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b State of Queensland (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services) (November 2016). "Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Honours and Awards 2016" (PDF). Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  • Guide, participant (2011) [1975], SEM0001 Volunteering in the SES, Brisbane, Queensland: The State of Queensland, EMQ-TD-PC-003-23
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