State Emergency Service

Joining the SES

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If I joined the SES, what types of things would I be asked to do?

By joining the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) you would make a life changing commitment through actively contributing during disasters and emergencies locally, statewide and nationally. There is an expectation of members to regularly attend training and support during activations where possible.

You could be involved in:

Assisting police in the search for a missing person
Providing emergency lighting for aero-medical activities
Putting tarpaulins on houses unroofed by severe storms or cyclones
Removing fallen trees where they are a danger to person or property
Providing traffic control, lighting, communications support to other services at a major accident or event such as bushfires or a mining accident
Incident Management
Going out in a flood boat to rescue a marooned person or to drop supplies to people cut of in the wet season
Conducting a public education display at your local show or in your local shopping centre
Performing a vertical rescue of a bushwalker fallen over a cliff or a worker trapped up a silo
Conducting a road crash rescue in rural areas or assisting the Fire Service in urban area

You will never be compelled to take part in an activation or to undergo training in something of which you are afraid or dislike.

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Fitness to function

It is the SES volunteer’s responsibility to ensure that they have an appropriate level of fitness to perform those SES functions they have been trained in e.g. volunteers may consider themselves fairly fit however might experience discomfort during a land search over rough terrain. In this situation a volunteer may impede the search by needing to be rescued.

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Who can join the SES?

Roles can vary from Group to Group depending on their operational capacity. Check with your local SES Group to see what you can do.

Emergency Services Cadet Units have been established in a number of communities for young people at high school. See the Emergency Services Cadets website for more information.

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What could I expect to learn with the SES?

SES Groups conduct training programs in their own communities with support provided at the EMQ Area, Region and State levels.

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Do I get paid for being an SES volunteer?

SES volunteers are not paid for the valuable commitment they provide to their communities.

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How much will it cost me to be in the SES?

There are no joining fees. Volunteers are provided with protective clothing and relevant equipment based on their role within an SES Group. Education and training programs are provided free of charge.
If you are injured in any way whilst on an approved SES activation or at training, you will be fully covered by workers compensation.

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Where can I get more information?

To find out how to join, or for more information about SES in your area, contact your nearest EMQ Regional or Area Office.

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How do I become a volunteer?

To become a member of the State Emergency Service simply register your interest through our SES Recruitment Form or contact your nearest EMQ Regional office. SES Groups run local SES recruitment programs. Depending on the SES Group the frequency of the Information Nights and Inductions may vary and some may be held infrequently resulting in possible delays in the membership process.

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