Functions
The SES provides assistance to local communities in times of need. Because every community is different, every SES Unit has a slightly different set of roles and activities. Depending on the needs of the local community, a Unit may perform only some or all of these roles:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Agency Support (Operational) | Supporting other Emergency Services during incidents with lighting, human resources, marine transport, and other services. |
| Agency Support (Training) | Supporting other Emergency Services, agencies, and community organisations with member participation, resources, and welfare. |
| Air Observation - Search | Assisting in searches over land and sea from both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. |
| Air Observation - Intelligence | Gathering Flood Intelligence during events, emergency evacuation, remote area resupply, Reconnaissance of Flood and Storm effected areas. |
| Air Support Operations | Providing ground support for Emergency Aircraft Operations, notably the filling of water bomber aircraft during bushfire events. |
| Building Impact | Minor USAR operations caused by motor vehicles crashing into buildings. SES units provide shoring to these buildings and temporary building stabilisation. |
| Communication Support Unit | Provide communications support in difficult terrains. Install repeater radios and portable antennas. Co-ordinate other SES teams. Members are also trained to carry out the functions of other SES units. |
| Crowd and/or Traffic Control | Assisting police and ambulance at public events like ANZAC Day in this capacity. Also assisting police with road closures during events like flooding and New Year celebrations. |
| Emergency services liaison | Working with representatives of other emergency services during emergencies. |
| Evacuation Centre Management | Establishing and running temporary evacuation centres. |
| Fire Support & Training | Assisting the police and the rural and metropolitan fire services with road closures, evacuations, delivery of welfare during major fires, and some training like First Aid and Chainsaw Operations. |
| First Aid | Aiding members of the public requiring basic medical aid and assisting ambulance officers and members of St. John Ambulance of Australia with triage and mass casualty situations |
| Flood and storm preparation and response | Making temporary repairs and protecting property after floods and storms, helping people prepare for floods and storms and using specialised equipment like flood boats and chainsaws. |
| General rescue procedures and skills | Working safely to remove people from dangerous situations |
| Land Search | Searching for missing persons usually in both rural and suburban areas. Land search ranges from street based searches, to scrub and woodland areas as well as mountain rescue. |
| Management | Team which fill the administration roles at a unit level |
| Marine Rescue | Working with the Coast Guard and other marine organizations in assisting boats in distress |
| Media, public relations and community education | Working with the media and the public to communicate safety messages and warnings and to promote the SES to the community |
| Mines Rescue | Some SES units have specific training to allow them to rescue trapped persons from inside collapsed mines |
| Road-crash rescue | Providing mechanical intervention to crashed vehicles and extricating injured persons. |
| Training coordination | Helping to plan and carry out the training in a Unit. Nationally recognised subjects and courses are available to members. |
| Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) | Extending basic rescue techniques to situations such as collapsed or unstable structures, using specialised equipment such as after bombs or explosions |
| Vertical rescue | Rescuing people from heights and depths such as cliffs or ravines |
| Tsunami & earthquake response | Responding to and managing tsunami and earthquake events |
| Welfare | Providing and administrating temporary field bases for activations, including meals, peer support, teas & coffees etc. The SES also runs a "driver reviver" scheme that aims to reduce accidents caused by fatigued drivers. |
Read more about this topic: State Emergency Service
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—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)