Victoria State Emergency Service

Victoria State Emergency Service

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Agency overview
Formed	1975
Preceding agency	Civil Defence Organisation
Jurisdiction	Victoria
Headquarters	168 Sturt Street, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
Employees	Paid and Voluntary Volunteers 5,000 Staff 200
Agency executives	Robert Purcell, Chief Executive Officer Alistair Drayton, Acting Chief Officer Operations Kate White, Interim Chief Executive Officer (On Leave) Silivia Silverii, Interim Executive Director Community & Corporate Services Asad Zafar, Interim Chief Information Officer Debbie Mann, Executive Director, People, Safety & Wellbeing
Website	ses.vic.gov.au

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based organisation responding to natural disasters and working to ensure the safety of communities around Victoria, Australia. Each State and territory of Australia has its own independent State Emergency Service (SES), and VICSES is only one of these services spread across Australia. At times of great need or catastrophic disaster, it is common that assistance be sought from other states.

VICSES is the lead agency when responding to floods, storms, landslides; tsunami, earthquakes, and incidents involving building damage, as well as operating the largest network of road rescue units in Australia and one of the largest in the world.

VICSES also provides assistance to other emergency services such as Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, The Country Fire Authority (CFA), Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and to municipal councils in support of their emergency management plans.

There are more than 5,000 volunteers and 220 employees ^[1] spread across 155 units. ^[2]

Responsibilities

Control Agency

• Storm
• Flood
• Tsunami
• Earthquake
• Landslide
• incidents involving building damage
• rescue incidents involving rail, aircraft and industrial (as per State Road Crash Rescue Arrangements 2023)

Support agency

• Country Fire Authority (CFA)
• Victoria Police (VICPOL)
• Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) [Previously known as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB)]
• Ambulance Victoria (AV)
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)

Activities

In addition to its control agency functions, VICSES has a shared responsibility for rescues with the CFA and FRV.

VICSES along with other emergency services in Victoria, provide specialist response functions including:

• Road Rescue
• High Angle Rescue
• Industrial Rescue
• Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
• Search and Rescue (SAR)
• Alpine Search and Rescue (ASAR)
• Land Based Swift Water Rescue (LBSWR)
• Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR)
• General Land Rescue

VICSES is also called upon to assist other agencies with unique tasks, some include:

• Victoria Police
  • Crime scene preservation
  • Evidence search
  • General assistance (lighting, temporary power, ladders, etc.).
• Ambulance Victoria
  • Assist with patient carry-outs
  • Assist paramedics in difficult terrain (4WD/ATV/BOAT)
• Country Fire Authority
  • Staging area management
  • Incident Management
• Environmental Protection Authority
  • Deployment of air quality monitoring equipment

Regions

VICSES is broken into 2 regions that cover the state of Victoria. The SES Units are supported by Unit Support Teams (UST) with career personnel.

• East Region
  • Unit Support Teams in Bayside, Eastern Metro, East Gippsland, Goulburn Broken, North East, Southern Metro, West Gippsland
• West Region
  • Unit Support Teams in Barwon, Loddon, Mallee, Mid West, North West Metro, South West, Wimmera

Ranks

Volunteer Insignia

Section Leader	Deputy Controller	Unit Controller

Staff Insignia

Operations Officer	Operations Manager	Assistant Chief Officer	Deputy Chief Officer	Chief Officer

Vehicles, Trailers & Other Assets

Cars

Passenger Vehicles

Cars include a mixture of Ford, Holden, Subaru, Kia and Toyota

Mini-Van

Four Wheel Drives

Mixture of Nissan Patrol, Navara, Pathfinder, Ford Rangers, Everest & Toyota Hilux

Light Rescue

Mixture of chassis Ford, Mercedes & Iveco

Medium Rescue

SES medium Rescue 2WD Truck

Medium Rescue (2WD)

Chssis	Hino 300 Series, 921 Crew Cab
GVM	8.5t
Engine	5.1L Turbocharged Diesel
Transmission	6 Speed Automatic
Seating	6 Seats
Drive	4x2 rear wheel, 100L fuel tank capacity
Safety	Dual SRS Airbags, ABS Brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

Equipment Body:

• 5 large and 3 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and,
• 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including LED locker lighting).
• Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 100W 24V LED lights (output 10,479 Lm per light).
• External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel.
• Martin power supply system capacity of 8 kVA with 8 x 10A GPO’s.
• Compressed air system delivering 10 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at 116psi.
• Bulbar fitted with HID driving lights.
• No tow bar fitted.

Equipment Capabilities:

• Up to 1,000kg of tools and equipment
• Multi purpose truck, i.e. capacity for storm and flood or RCR equipment.

Licence Requirements:

• Light Rigid Licence

SES Medium Rescue 4WD Truck

Medium Rescue (4WD)

Chassis	Isuzu NPS 75/155 4WD Crew Cab
GVM	7.5t
Engine	5.0L Diesel Turbocharged
Transmission	5 speed Automated Manual
Seating	7 Seats
Drive	Electric control part time 4WD with dual range transfer case, limited slip rear differential, 140 Litre fuel tank capacity
Safety	Incl. Driver and passenger air bags, ABS braking

Equipment Body:

• 5 large and 3 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and,
• 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including LED locker lighting).
• Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 24V LED lights.
• External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel.
• Martin power supply system - capacity of 8 kVA with 8 x 10A GPO’s.
• Compressed air system delivering 10 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at 116psi.
• Bulbar fitted with 15,000lb, 24v winch & HID driving lights
• No tow bar fitted.

Equipment Capabilities:

• Up to 1,000kg of tools and equipment
• Multi purpose truck, i.e. capacity for RAIR, Storm and Flood equipment.

Licence Requirements:

• Light Rigid Licence

Heavy Rescue

SES Heavy Rescue

Heavy Rescue Truck (2WD)

Chassis	Hino 500, FD 1124 Crew Cab
GVM	11t
Engine	6.4L Diesel Turbocharged
Transmission	Automatic
Seating	7 Seats
Drive	Rear wheel, 200L fuel tank capacity
Safety	ABS Brakes with ASR, electric and heated mirrors and drivers SRS airbag

Equipment Body:

• 7 large and 1 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and
• 8 x fixed shelving, 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including locker lighting).
• Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 24v LED lights.
• External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel.
• Martin power supply of 8kVA with 8 x 10A GPO.
• Compressed air system delivering 15 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 130psi.
• Bull bar fitted with HID driving lights
• No tow bar fitted

Equipment Capabilities:

• Up to 2,000kg of tools and equipment
• RAIR purpose truck, i.e. capacity RAIR and storm or flood equipment.

Licence Requirements:

• Medium Rigid Licence

Boats

IRB's

Trailers

Lighting Towers

Genie AL6-6000

• 8.40 m extended mast height
• 2.45 m long (drawbar retracted)
• Kubota D1403 diesel10.7 kW @1500rpm

AllightSykes URBAN MLLED200K-9AC-K

• 9-meter mast design
• LED's 4 x 500 watt
• 200,000 lumens
• Kubota D905 Diesel Engine
• 100km/h Wind Speed Rated

Units

Central Region ( Including North West Metro and South)

Unit	Location	Other Links	Rescue(s)	General Rescue(s)	Support(s)	Other	Special Skill Set	Notes
Brimbank	Stadium Dr, Keilor Park VIC 3042 Google Maps	Facebook
Central East RHQ Unit
Central West RHQ Unit
Chelsea	13 Ashley Park Drive, Chelsea Heights VIC 3196 Google Maps	Website Facebook Instagram	1	2	2 – Four-Wheel Drives	2 – Boats 1 – Lighting Trailer 1 – Pump Trailer 1 – Sand Bag Trailer 1 – General Purpose Trailer	Boat Rescue Land Based Swift Water Rescue Air Observer	Chelsea SES Unit's history can be traced back to 1953 making it one of the longest, continuous serving units assisting the community This unit is Junior Accredited allowing the unit to train children between the ages of 16 – 17 years old
Craigieburn	151A Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn VIC 3064 Google Maps	Facebook
Emerald	Old Gembrook Rd, Emerald VIC 3782 Google Maps
Essendon	9 Rutherford St, Aberfeldie VIC 3039 Google Maps	Facebook					Boat Rescue Land Based Swift Water Rescue
Fawkner	1161 Sydney Rd, Hadfield VIC 3046 Google Maps	Facebook		2	1 - General Rescue Support 2 - Suport 4WD	1 - Lighting Trailer 1 - Crime Scene Support Trailer 1 - General Purpose Trailer	Land Based Swift Water Rescue Air Observer	Formerly Broadmeadows Unit, name changed on 12 September 2022 due to relocation
Footscray	95 Sunshine Road, West Footscray VIC 3012 (Entry via Indwe Street gate) Google Maps	Facebook		2	2	2 Rescue Boats 1 Box Trailer	Boat Rescue	Formed on 8 February 1962
Frankston	6 McMannis Way, Seaford VIC 3198 Google Maps	Website Facebook	3	0	3 – Four-Wheel Drives	1 – Mini-bus 2 – Boats	Road Crash Rescue Boat Rescue	This unit is Junior Accredited allowing the unit to train children between the ages of 16 – 17 years old
Glen Eira	92 Bignell Rd, Bentleigh East VIC 3165 Google Maps	Facebook	1	1	2 – Four-Wheel Drives	1 – Lighting Trailer		Formerly Oakleigh Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Greater Dandenong	42 Mills Rd, Dandenong VIC 3175 Google Maps	Facebook						Formerly Springvale Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Hastings	Frankston - Flinders Rd, Hastings VIC 3915 Google Maps
Healesville	18 Argoon Rd, Healesville VIC 3777 Google Maps
Heidelberg	446 Waterdale Rd Heidelberg Heights 3081	Facebook Website		1- Medium General Rescue (Isuzu) - currently at Ararat 1- Light Rescue (Iveco)	1- Hilux crew cab 1- Nissan Patrol	1- Storm Trailer 1 - General Purpose trailer	Search and Rescue Bike Squad x six bikes 1 x Traverse rescue Mule	Formerly Northcote Unit, name changed on 12 Sept 2022
Hobsons Bay		Facebook						Formerly Altona Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Knox		Facebook
Lilydale
Malvern		Facebook
Manningham								Formerly Doncaster Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Maroondah		Facebook						Formerly Croydon Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Melton		Facebook
Monash		Facebook						Formerly Waverley Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Moorabbin		Facebook
Narre Warren
Nillumbik	58 Susan Street, Eltham, Victoria, 3088	Website Facebook	1 – RAIR Heavy Rescue 1 – RAIR Rescue Support	1	1 – Four-Wheel Drive Technical Rescue 1 – Four-Wheel Drive Support	1 x Lighting Trailer	Road Crash Rescue Technical Rescue – Steep Angle Rope Rescue (multi-agency team with CFA) Air Search Observers Land Based Swift Water Rescue Urban Search and Rescue Category 1	Formerly Eltham Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Pakenham
Port Phillip								Formerly St Kilda Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Sorrento		Facebook
Sunbury
Upper Yarra		Facebook
Whitehorse		Facebook						Formerly Nunawading Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Whittlesea
Wyndham
Wyndham West		Facebook						Was the 150th VICSES Unit Created and became operation on July 14, 2020, with 6 members [3]

Gippsland Region

Unit	Location	Other Links	Notes
Gippsland Regional Support
Bairnsdale
Bendoc
Bruthen
Buchan
Cann River
Erica
Foster
Inverloch
Leongatha
Loch Sport
Maffra
Mallacoota
Moe
Morwell
Orbost
Phillip Island
Rosedale
Sale
San Remo
Stratford
Tambo Valley			Formerly Swifts Creek Unit, name changed on 1 November 2018
Warragul
Wonthaggi
Yarram

Grampians Region

Unit	Location	Other Links	Notes
Ararat
Bacchus Marsh
Ballarat
Dimboola
Dunmunkle			Formerly known as Rupanyup Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014
Edenhope
Goroke
Daylesford			Formerly Hepburn Shire Unit, name changed on 12 Sept 2022
Horsham
Kaniva
Grampians Regional Support
Nhill
St Arnaud
Stawell
Warracknabeal

Hume Region

Unit	Location	Other Links	Notes
Alexandra
Beechworth
Benalla
Bright
Chiltern
Cobram
Corryong
Euroa
Falls Creek
Kilmore
Kinglake
Mansfield
Marysville
Mitta Mitta
Murchison
Myrtleford
Numurkah
Hume Regional Headquarters Unit
Rutherglen
Seymour
Shepparton Search & Rescue Squad (Private)
Tallangatta
Tatura
Wangaratta, mother unit to Yarrawonga
Wodonga
Yackandandah
Yarrawonga - Bird Watching Unit

Loddon Mallee Region

Unit	Location	Other Links	Notes
Bendigo
Birchip
Castlemaine	1 Scotts AVE, Castlemaine VIC 3450 Google maps	Facebook
Dunolly
Echuca
Echuca-Moama Search & Rescue (Private)
Gisborne
Heathcote
Huntly
Kerang
Kyabram
Marong
Maryborough
Mildura
Murrayville
North West Regional Support
Ouyen
Robinvale
Rochester
Rushworth
Swan Hill
Wedderburn
Woodend
Woomelang
Wycheproof

Barwon South West Region

Unit	Location	Other Links	Rescue(s)	General Rescue(s)	Support(s)	Other	Special Skill Set	Notes
Balmoral
Bannockburn
Bellarine
Camperdown
Cobden
Colac
Corio
Dartmoor
Dunkeld
Geelong
Hamilton	58-60 Shakespeare Street Hamilton		1 - Heavy Rescue		2 - Support 4WDs	1 - Lighting Trailer 1 - Rescue Boat 1 - Storm Trailer 1 - Litter Mule	Road Rescue Rescue Boat Swift Water Rescue - Land Based Urban Search & Rescue - Cat 1 Incident Air Monitoring Divisional Command Point	Founded on December 9, 1969, as the "Hamilton & District Civil Defence & Rescue Squad"
Heywood
Lismore
Lorne
Mortlake
Otway
Port Campbell
Port Fairy
Portland
Barwon South West Regional Support
South Barwon
Terang
Torquay
Warrnambool
Winchelsea	325 Mousley Rd, Winchelsea VIC 3241	https://www.facebook.com/Winchses/	1 - Medium Rescue		1 - Support 4WD	1 - Lighting Trailer	Road Rescue

Volunteers Association

VICSESVA Corporate Logo

Volunteers and Units are represented by the Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association (VICSESVA) which was formed in 1983.

The Association's role is to advocate for VICSES volunteers by raising issues that impact on skills, training, funding, equipment, ethics & safety. VICSESVA is a non-profit association run and managed by VICSES Volunteers.

See also

• Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council

Other States:

• (NSW) New South Wales State Emergency Service
• (QLD) Queensland State Emergency Service
• (SA) South Australian State Emergency Service
• (ACT) Australian Capital Territory State Emergency Service
• (WA) State Emergency Service of Western Australia
• (NT) Northern Territory Emergency Service
• (TAS) Tasmania State Emergency Service

References

1. "SES – Who We Are". www.ses.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
2. "Victoria State Emergency Service". Victoria SES.
3. "Wyndham West unit welcomed into VICSES family".

External links

• Victoria SES Facebook page
• Australian Council of State Emergency Services
• Victoria State Emergency Service
• Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association