State Emergency Services Talk Groups

Sources: Proscan/ACMA/scanneraustralia.com.au

What Is NSW SES?

• Founded: 1955

• Jurisdiction: Entire state of New South Wales

• Headquarters: Wollongong, NSW

Staffing:

• Over 10,900 volunteers (as of 2023)

• Around 468 full-time employees

• Commissioner: Michael Wassing (appointed December 2024)

Core Responsibilities

NSW SES is the lead agency for:

• Flood response and rescue
• Storm damage mitigation
• Tsunami preparedness and response

It also supports other emergency services in:

• Road crash rescue
• Vertical rescue
• Bush search and rescue
• Evidence searches
• Community education and disaster preparedness

Services & Operations

• Incident Response: SES volunteers respond to thousands of calls annually, including tree removals, roof damage, and evacuations.

• Community Engagement: They run education programs to help residents prepare for emergencies.

• Specialist Rescue: In rural areas, SES often leads general rescue efforts, including remote access and technical rescues.

• Support Roles: SES assists in bushfire support, medical emergencies, and large-scale evacuations.

Mission & Values

• Mission: Saving lives and creating safer communities.

• Vision: To be a trusted volunteer-based emergency service delivering excellence in preparedness and response.

• Values: Diversity, inclusion, teamwork, and community service.

Volunteer Culture

NSW SES is built on a strong volunteer ethos:

• Volunteers come from all walks of life.

• Training is provided for rescue, logistics, communications, and leadership.

• Members wear distinctive orange overalls and are active 24/7, 365 days a year.