Agency overview | |
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Formed | 11 December 1975 |
Preceding agency |
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Jurisdiction | Queensland |
Headquarters | Kedron, Queensland, Australia |
Employees | 7 Regions 19 Areas 73 Units 337 Groups 6,000 members |
Annual budget | A$60M (2024) [1] |
Minister responsible | |
Agency executives |
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Parent agency | Queensland Fire and Emergency Services |
Key documents | |
Website | SES website QFES Facebook page |
The Queensland State Emergency Service (QSES) in Queensland, Australia is a volunteer based organisation of the Queensland Government and forms part of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), responsible for disaster management and as an emergency services auxiliary.
The current head of the Queensland State Emergency Service is Assistant Commissioner Andrew Short.
In 2011, the Queensland State Emergency Service was a recipient of the Queensland Greats Awards. [2]
In 1975, the State Government established the Queensland State Emergency Service (QSES). This Service evolved from the former Queensland Civil Defence Organisation that had been in operation since 1961.
From its beginning in 1961 until November 1973, the Queensland Civil Defence Organisation 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 Civil Defence Organisation was activated to assist in disaster relief. The Civil Defence Organisation saw a much larger involvement in natural disasters during the 1974 Brisbane floods.
The Queensland State Emergency Service was established in 1975, which evolved from the Queensland Civil Defence Organisation which commenced in 1961. [3]
The Queensland State Emergency Service was established because there was a need for a service that was capable of dealing with natural disasters as well as undertaking a civil defence role in the event of armed aggression against the Australian mainland.
In 1975, the State Government introduced the State Counter Disaster Organisation Act, which was proclaimed on 11 December 1975. The Act established two organisations, the State Counter Disaster Organisation (SCDO) and the Queensland State Emergency Service (QSES).
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. The Disaster Management Act 2003 repealed and replaced the State Counter-Disaster Organisation Act when it commenced by proclamation on 31 March 2004. Following legislation updates on 21 May 2014 the SES is now established under the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990.
The Act maintains 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.
QSES Units are established at local government level, to provide emergency support functions to local communities. These QSES Units have separate SES Groups established, depending on population and geographical needs. At present, there are 337 QSES Groups in Queensland. QSES Units and Groups are volunteer based. The QSES is designed to empower people to help themselves and others in their community in times of emergency and disaster. The basic concept is one of self-help and mutual assistance within each community.
In October 2022, following a review by State Disaster Co-ordinator Steve Gollschewski, it was announced that 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. [4] [5] On 1 July 2024 the State Emergency Service will be merged with the Queensland Police Service along with the Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Queensland, which itself is to be renamed Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) and therefore made part of the Queensland emergency services. [4] [6]
The QSES is part of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. QFES is the primary provider of fire, rescue and emergency services within Queensland.
The QSES's 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.
The QSES are trained and equipped to deal with emergencies like;
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief Officer of the Queensland State Emergency Service.
Period served | Name | Notes |
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5 February 2024 – present | Mark Armstrong | First ever appointed Chief Officer. [7] He was formerly a colonel in the Australian Army. [8] |
Members may be eligible for Australian and Queensland Honours.
Honours worn in the order shown.
Public Service Medal | Outstanding Service. Post-nominal 'PSM' | |
Emergency Services Medal | Distinguished service. Post-nominal 'ESM' | |
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal | Clasp Christchurch from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. | |
National Emergency Medal | Clasps Qld 2010–11 and Vic Fires 09 | |
Centenary Medal | Awarded in 2001 for making a contribution to Australian society or government. | |
National Medal | Awarded for 15 years service, a clasp is added every 10 years following. |
Queensland State Emergency Service 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. QSES members are only eligible for one medal, not both. [9]
Citations are worn centrally, 5mm above the nameplate on the right breast pocket of service shirts, tunics and coats. The Order of Precedence for Queensland State Emergency Service citations is as follows: [9]
2010–2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation | Awarded for service one day service during one or more of the following 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 |
Civil defense or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from human-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation and recovery. Programs of this sort were initially discussed at least as early as the 1920s and were implemented in some countries during the 1930s as the threat of war and aerial bombardment grew. Civil-defense structures became widespread after authorities recognised the threats posed by nuclear weapons.
Military aid to the civil community (MACC) is a phrase referring to the armed forces providing a service to the civilian community. It is used in many countries, particularly the United Kingdom.
The State Emergency Service (SES) is the name used by a number of civil defence organisations in Australia that provide assistance during and after major incidents. Specifically, the service deals with floods, storms and tsunamis, but can also assist in other emergencies, such as vertical rescue and road crash rescues, missing persons searches, and medical evacuations. In other scenarios the SES may provide a support role to other agencies, particularly police and fire. The SES is operational 24 hours a day. The SES is constituted as separate organisations operating in the various Australian states and territories. Eight of the SES organisations co-ordinate through the Australian Council of State and Territory Emergency Services (ACSES).
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Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry was a tropical cyclone that made landfall in Australia during the 2005–06 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season. Larry originated as a low pressure system over the eastern Coral Sea on 16 March 2006, and was monitored by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in Brisbane, Australia. The low-pressure area organised into a tropical cyclone two days later and quickly strengthened into a Category 4 storm on the Australian tropical cyclone scale. Larry made landfall in Far North Queensland close to Innisfail, on 20 March 2006, as a Category 5 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale, with wind gusts reaching 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph), before dissipating over land several days later.
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