| Agency Name: | Victoria State Emergency Service |
| Seal: | Badge of the Victoria SES.svg |
| Picture Width: | 120px |
| Picture Caption: | Flag |
| Formed: | 1975 |
| Preceding1: | Civil Defence Organisation |
| Jurisdiction: | Victoria |
| Headquarters: | 168 Sturt Street, Southbank, Victoria, Australia |
| Employees: | Paid and Voluntary Volunteers 5,000Staff 200 |
| Chief1 Name: | Greg Leach AFSM |
| Chief1 Position: | Chief Executive Officer |
| Chief2 Name: | Tim Wiebusch |
| Chief2 Position: | Chief Officer Operations |
| Chief3 Name: | Kate White |
| Chief3 Position: | Executive Director Community & Corporate Services |
| Chief5 Name: | Shelley Cusson |
| Chief5 Position: | Director People and Organisational Development |
| Chief6 Name: | Silvia Silverii |
| Chief6 Position: | Chief Information Officer |
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based organisation responding to natural disasters and working to ensure the safety of communities around Victoria, Australia. Each State and territory of Australia has its own independent State Emergency Service (SES), and VICSES is only one of these services spread across Australia. At times of great need or catastrophic disaster, it is common that assistance be sought from other states.
VICSES is the lead agency when responding to floods, storms, landslides; tsunami, earthquakes, and incidents involving building damage, as well as operating the largest network of road rescue units in Australia and one of the largest in the world.
VICSES also provides assistance to other emergency services such as Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, The Country Fire Authority (CFA), Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and to municipal councils in support of their emergency management plans.
There are more than 5,000 volunteers and 220 employees[1] spread across 155 units.[2]
In addition to its control agency functions, VICSES has a shared responsibility for rescues with the CFA and FRV.
VICSES along with other emergency services in Victoria, provide specialist response functions including:
VICSES is also called upon to assist other agencies with unique tasks, some include:
VICSES is broken into 2 regions that cover the state of Victoria. The SES Units are supported by Unit Support Teams (UST) with career personnel.
Cars include a mixture of Ford, Holden, Subaru, Kia and Toyota
Mini-Van
Mixture of Nissan Patrol, Navara, Pathfinder, Ford Rangers, Everest & Toyota Hilux
Mixture of chassis Ford, Mercedes & Iveco
| Chssis | Hino 300 Series, 921 Crew Cab | |
| GVM | 8.5t | |
| Engine | 5.1L Turbocharged Diesel | |
| Transmission | 6 Speed Automatic | |
| Seating | 6 Seats | |
| Drive | 4x2 rear wheel, 100L fuel tank capacity | |
| Safety | Dual SRS Airbags, ABS Brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). |
Equipment Capabilities:
Licence Requirements:
| Chassis | Isuzu NPS 75/155 4WD Crew Cab | |
| GVM | 7.5t | |
| Engine | 5.0L Diesel Turbocharged | |
| Transmission | 5 speed Automated Manual | |
| Seating | 7 Seats | |
| Drive | Electric control part time 4WD with dual range transfer case, limited slip rear differential, 140 Litre fuel tank capacity | |
| Safety | Incl. Driver and passenger air bags, ABS braking |
Equipment Capabilities:
Licence Requirements:
| Chassis | Hino 500, FD 1124 Crew Cab | |
| GVM | 11t | |
| Engine | 6.4L Diesel Turbocharged | |
| Transmission | Automatic | |
| Seating | 7 Seats | |
| Drive | Rear wheel, 200L fuel tank capacity | |
| Safety | ABS Brakes with ASR, electric and heated mirrors and drivers SRS airbag |
Equipment Capabilities:
Licence Requirements:
IRB's
Genie AL6-6000
AllightSykes URBAN MLLED200K-9AC-K
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Rescue(s) | General Rescue(s) | Support(s) | Other | Special Skill Set | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brimbank | Stadium Dr, Keilor Park VIC 3042 | ||||||||
| Central East RHQ Unit | |||||||||
| Central West RHQ Unit | |||||||||
| Chelsea | 13 Ashley Park Drive, Chelsea Heights VIC 3196 | WebsiteFacebook | 1 | 2 | 2 – Four-Wheel Drives | 2 – Boats1 – Lighting Trailer 1 – Pump Trailer 1 – Sand Bag Trailer 1 – General Purpose Trailer | Boat RescueLand Based Swift Water Rescue Air Observer | Chelsea SES Unit's history can be traced back to 1953 making it one of the longest, continuous serving units assisting the communityThis unit is Junior Accredited allowing the unit to train children between the ages of 16 – 17 years old | |
| Craigieburn | 151A Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn VIC 3064Google Maps | ||||||||
| Emerald | Old Gembrook Rd, Emerald VIC 3782Google Maps | ||||||||
| Essendon | 9 Rutherford St, Aberfeldie VIC 3039 | Boat RescueLand Based Swift Water Rescue | |||||||
| Fawkner | 1161 Sydney Rd, Hadfield VIC 3046Google Maps | 2 | 1 - General Rescue Support2 - Suport 4WD | 1 - Lighting Trailer1 - Crime Scene Support Trailer1 - General Purpose Trailer | Land Based Swift Water RescueAir Observer | Formerly Broadmeadows Unit, name changed on 12 September 2022 due to relocation | |||
| Footscray | 95 Sunshine Road, West Footscray VIC 3012 (Entry via Indwe Street gate) | 2 | 2 | 2 Rescue Boats 1 Box Trailer | Boat Rescue | Formed on 8 February 1962 | |||
| Frankston | 6 McMannis Way, Seaford VIC 3198 | Website | 3 | 0 | 3 – Four-Wheel Drives | 1 – Mini-bus2 – Boats | Road Crash RescueBoat Rescue | This unit is Junior Accredited allowing the unit to train children between the ages of 16 – 17 years old | |
| Glen Eira | 92 Bignell Rd, Bentleigh East VIC 3165 | 1 | 1 | 2 – Four-Wheel Drives | 1 – Lighting Trailer | Formerly Oakleigh Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||
| Greater Dandenong | 42 Mills Rd, Dandenong VIC 3175 | Formerly Springvale Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Hastings | Frankston - Flinders Rd, Hastings VIC 3915Google Maps | ||||||||
| Healesville | 18 Argoon Rd, Healesville VIC 3777Google Maps | ||||||||
| Heidelberg | 446 Waterdale Rd Heidelberg Heights 3081 | FacebookWebsite | 1- Medium General Rescue (Isuzu) - currently at Ararat 1- Light Rescue (Iveco) | 1- Hilux crew cab 1- Nissan Patrol | 1- Storm Trailer1 - General Purpose trailer | Search and Rescue Bike Squad x six bikes1 x Traverse rescue Mule | Formerly Northcote Unit, name changed on 12 Sept 2022 | ||
| Hobsons Bay | Formerly Altona Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||||
| Knox | |||||||||
| Lilydale | |||||||||
| Malvern | |||||||||
| Manningham | Formerly Doncaster Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||||
| Maroondah | Formerly Croydon Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||||
| Melton | |||||||||
| Monash | Formerly Waverley Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||||
| Moorabbin | |||||||||
| Narre Warren | |||||||||
| Nillumbik | 58 Susan Street, Eltham, Victoria, 3088 | Website | 1 – RAIR Heavy Rescue 1 – RAIR Rescue Support | 1 | 1 – Four-Wheel Drive Technical Rescue 1 – Four-Wheel Drive Support | 1 x Lighting Trailer | Road Crash Rescue Technical Rescue – Steep Angle Rope Rescue (multi-agency team with CFA) Air Search Observers Land Based Swift Water Rescue Urban Search and Rescue Category 1 | Formerly Eltham Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |
| Pakenham | |||||||||
| Port Phillip | Formerly St Kilda Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||||
| Sorrento | |||||||||
| Sunbury | |||||||||
| Upper Yarra | |||||||||
| Whitehorse | Formerly Nunawading Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||||
| Whittlesea | |||||||||
| Wyndham | |||||||||
| Wyndham West | Was the 150th VICSES Unit Created and became operation on July 14, 2020, with 6 members[3] |
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gippsland Regional Support | ||||
| Bairnsdale | ||||
| Bendoc | ||||
| Bruthen | ||||
| Buchan | ||||
| Cann River | ||||
| Erica | ||||
| Foster | ||||
| Inverloch | ||||
| Leongatha | ||||
| Loch Sport | ||||
| Maffra | ||||
| Mallacoota | ||||
| Moe | ||||
| Morwell | ||||
| Orbost | ||||
| Phillip Island | ||||
| Rosedale | ||||
| Sale | ||||
| San Remo | ||||
| Stratford | ||||
| Tambo Valley | Formerly Swifts Creek Unit, name changed on 1 November 2018 | |||
| Warragul | ||||
| Wonthaggi | ||||
| Yarram |
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ararat | ||||
| Bacchus Marsh | ||||
| Ballarat | ||||
| Dimboola | ||||
| Dunmunkle | Formerly known as Rupanyup Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||
| Edenhope | ||||
| Goroke | ||||
| Daylesford | Formerly Hepburn Shire Unit, name changed on 12 Sept 2022 | |||
| Horsham | ||||
| Kaniva | ||||
| Grampians Regional Support | ||||
| Nhill | ||||
| St Arnaud | ||||
| Stawell | ||||
| Warracknabeal |
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra | ||||
| Beechworth | ||||
| Benalla | ||||
| Bright | ||||
| Chiltern | ||||
| Cobram | ||||
| Corryong | ||||
| Euroa | ||||
| Falls Creek | ||||
| Kilmore | ||||
| Kinglake | ||||
| Mansfield | ||||
| Marysville | ||||
| Mitta Mitta | ||||
| Murchison | ||||
| Myrtleford | ||||
| Numurkah | ||||
| Hume Regional Headquarters Unit | ||||
| Rutherglen | ||||
| Seymour | ||||
| Shepparton Search & Rescue Squad (Private) | ||||
| Tallangatta | ||||
| Tatura | ||||
| Wangaratta, mother unit to Yarrawonga | ||||
| Wodonga | ||||
| Yackandandah | ||||
| Yarrawonga - Bird Watching Unit |
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bendigo | ||||
| Birchip | ||||
| Castlemaine | 1 Scotts AVE,Castlemaine VIC3450 | |||
| Dunolly | ||||
| Echuca | ||||
| Echuca-Moama Search & Rescue (Private) | ||||
| Gisborne | ||||
| Heathcote | ||||
| Huntly | ||||
| Kerang | ||||
| Kyabram | ||||
| Marong | ||||
| Maryborough | ||||
| Mildura | ||||
| Murrayville | ||||
| North West Regional Support | ||||
| Ouyen | ||||
| Robinvale | ||||
| Rochester | ||||
| Rushworth | ||||
| Swan Hill | ||||
| Wedderburn | ||||
| Woodend | ||||
| Woomelang | ||||
| Wycheproof |
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Rescue(s) | General Rescue(s) | Support(s) | Other | Special Skill Set | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balmoral | |||||||||
| Bannockburn | |||||||||
| Bellarine | |||||||||
| Camperdown | |||||||||
| Cobden | |||||||||
| Colac | |||||||||
| Corio | |||||||||
| Dartmoor | |||||||||
| Dunkeld | |||||||||
| Geelong | |||||||||
| Hamilton | 58-60 Shakespeare Street Hamilton | 1 - Heavy Rescue | 2 - Support 4WDs | 1 - Lighting Trailer1 - Rescue Boat1 - Storm Trailer1 - Litter Mule | Road RescueRescue BoatSwift Water Rescue - Land Based Urban Search & Rescue - Cat 1Incident Air MonitoringDivisional Command Point | Founded on December 9, 1969, as the "Hamilton & District Civil Defence & Rescue Squad" | |||
| Heywood | |||||||||
| Lismore | |||||||||
| Lorne | |||||||||
| Mortlake | |||||||||
| Otway | |||||||||
| Port Campbell | |||||||||
| Port Fairy | |||||||||
| Portland | |||||||||
| Barwon South West Regional Support | |||||||||
| South Barwon | |||||||||
| Terang | |||||||||
| Torquay | |||||||||
| Warrnambool | |||||||||
| Winchelsea | 325 Mousley Rd, Winchelsea VIC 3241 | https://www.facebook.com/Winchses/ | 1 - Medium Rescue | 1 - Support 4WD | 1 - Lighting Trailer | Road Rescue |
Volunteers and Units are represented by the Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association (VICSESVA) which was formed in 1983.
The Association's role is to advocate for VICSES volunteers by raising issues that impact on skills, training, funding, equipment, ethics & safety. VICSESVA is a non-profit association run and managed by VICSES Volunteers.
Other States: