Talk:State Emergency Service

Comment
The first paragraph infers that the SES is only for volunters. This is not so, there is a large number of paid personnel within the ranks of the State Emergency Service of NSW. The volunteers are the back-bone of the service.

DERF


 * My understand is that there is not one SES, rather there are the various State-based SESs. For this reason I have slightly modified the intro line. --Daveb 12:17, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

To answer the two above comments:

SES - volunteers or professionals?

The SES is effectively a completely volunteer-run organisation. In Queensland, there are two paid positions that deal with the Queensland State Emergency Service, and they are employed by the Queensland Department of Emergency Services, not seperately by the SES. Their roles are, in addition to their DES roles, to manage the SES and help guide it into the future.

So, yes, there are some professional positions that keep the SES running, but in comparison to the number of volunteers that make the SES what it is, it is considered a volunteer organisation.

Note that while Queensland has the structure that I have described above, other states may have a different structure where there are dedicated paid positions within the SES.

Different SES groups

There are seperate State Emergency Services for each state and territory, but they are referred to collectively as "The State Emergency Service". As the article points out, the SES originated as the Civil Defence, which was created within federal legislation, requiring all states to set something up in that regard. So, while each state has its own SES, it is referred to collectively because they originate from federal legislation.

Also, highly qualified SES members are in high demand in major emergencies (Cyclone Larry, the Thredbo Landslide, et cetera) and resources from other states are called in as needed. A number of members from my unit assisted in both aforementioned events.

Anarchist309 10:13, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

Activation of SES members
Regarding this section of the article:

"...but the majority of operational members (those who have completed a probationary period and have attained minimum skills) are notified of a callout via mobile phone (SMS) or pager."

Does anyone have references or similar to prove that the majority of members country-wide are activated in this manner. I know that it's used, but by the majority? I would want that to be referenced before it's claimed as fact...

References for activation methods

I see where you're going with this, and I agree - but what references exist? I don't expect that internal doctrine and SOPs are, or should be, public knowledge. Further, activation methods don't just differ between states, but they also differ within states. One would need to offer references for each Unit, or some sort of summary.

I recommend that the paragraph be removed in its entirety from the article. Its value to the article is minor, if anything, and there is the issue of unreferenced information. The absence of activation details will not be a great loss to those learning about the SES. In any case, if people need details on activation SOPs, they can contact their relevant Unit or state government department - the latter with the option to approve the public release of SOPs. 220.237.242.111 (talk) 15:46, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

After one month, no responses or challenges have been made to the proposed change. Proposed change made. 220.237.242.111 (talk) 13:10, 18 March 2009 (UTC)

Leadership terminology
"'Each team is led by a Team-Leader (or Crew Leader). Each unit is headed by a Captain (until 2009, the title was Controller).'"

This is not correct for all Services. Queensland does not use the title Crew Leader, and continues to use the title of Local Controller as the head of a Unit.

Cite a source, please.

211.31.127.191 (talk) 04:11, 18 May 2010 (UTC)

No sources cited.

Removed for being incorrect and uncited.

220.237.232.83 (talk) 02:43, 27 May 2010 (UTC)

infobox
an infobox would be valuable for this article, perhaps. any ideas as to which one? FoCuSandLeArN (talk) 17:05, 26 August 2012 (UTC)
 * the headquarters listed is a house on a residential street. it is also misspelled. 124.169.141.91 (talk) 19:28, 6 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Google Streetview confirms a residential street, but the only source for an "address for the Headquarters" that I have found online is the one that is currently in the infobox:
 * For now, I think I'll remove the headquarters line. --Scott Davis Talk 12:41, 7 September 2015 (UTC)
 * For now, I think I'll remove the headquarters line. --Scott Davis Talk 12:41, 7 September 2015 (UTC)