Queensland_State_Emergency_Service Knowpia

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)
Minister responsible	Nikki Boyd;
Agency executives	Steve Smith, Acting Commissioner; Mark Armstrong, Chief Officer;
Parent agency	Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Key documents	State Counter Disaster Organisation Act; Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990; State Emergency Service Bill 2023;
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]

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.^[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.

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.

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]

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;

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.

Medals edit

National medals

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.

State medals

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 edit

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

References edit

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