Queensland State Emergency Service

Volunteer emergency service organisation in Queensland, Australia

Queensland State Emergency Service

The badge of the Queensland State Emergency Service

Agency overview
Formed| 11 December 1975
Preceding agency|

* Civil Defence Organisation

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|

* Nikki Boyd

Agency executives|

* Steve Gollschewski, Commissioner
* Mark Armstrong, Chief Officer

Parent agency| Queensland Police Service
Key document|

* State Emergency Service Act 2024

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 Police Service (QPS), responsible for disaster management and as an emergency services auxiliary.

The current head of the Queensland State Emergency Service is Chief Officer Mark Armstrong.

## History[edit]

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.[2]

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.

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

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.

In 2011, the Queensland State Emergency Service was a recipient of the Queensland Greats Awards.[3]

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,[when?] 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.[citation needed] The basic concept is one of self-help and mutual assistance within each community.

In October 2022, following a review by State Disaster Coordinator 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 merged with the Queensland Police Service along with the Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Queensland, which itself was renamed as Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) and made part of the Queensland emergency services.[4][6]

## Role[edit]

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:[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[edit]

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief Officer of the Queensland State Emergency Service.

Period served  | Name  | Notes

|
|

5 February 2024 – present  | Mark Armstrong  | First-ever appointed Chief Officer.[7] He was formerly a colonel in the Australian Army.[8]

## 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 Director | Executive
Manager | Regional Director | Deputy Chief Officer | Chief Officer |
|  |  |  |  |  |

## Honours and awards[edit]

Members may be eligible for Australian and Queensland Honours.

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]

| 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:[9]

| 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

## See also[edit]

* Queensland portal

* State Emergency Service

## References[edit]

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. ^ "History". Queensland State Emergency Service. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
3. ^ "2011 Queensland Greats recipients". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ "New Fire Department to call Albion home in 2025". miragenews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
6. ^ "Disaster and Emergency Services Reform". qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
7. ^ "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.
8. ^ "Mark Armstrong Biography". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
9. ^ 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

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queensland State Emergency Service.

* SES Official site

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* Australian Capital Territory State Emergency Service
* Queensland State Emergency Service
* New South Wales State Emergency Service
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* Tasmania State Emergency Service
* Victoria State Emergency Service
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