About Us

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to assisting the community. It is made up almost entirely of volunteers, with 228 Units located throughout New South Wales. The Units comprise of approximately 10,000 volunteer members, who are easily identified by their distinctive orange overalls. Nationally there are over 40,000 SES volunteers in every state and territory.

While our major responsibilities are for flood, storm and tsunami operations, the SES also provides the majority of general rescue efforts in the rural parts of the state. This includes road accident rescue, vertical rescue, bush search and rescue, evidence searches (both metropolitan and rural) and other forms of specialist rescue that may be required due to local threats. Volunteers in a number of isolated communities have been trained as Community First Responders by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales. The Service's trained rescuers also support the full-time emergency services during major disasters.

The SES also assists other emergency services when they are performing major operations. These services include the NSW Police Force, the NSW Rural Fire Service, the NSW Fire Brigades and the Ambulance Service of NSW.

Campaigns

National Volunteers Week (May), National SES Week (November) and World Volunteer Day (December) is when the Service actively engages with the wider community to recognise the contribution of the Service's volunteers and to encourage greater community participation.

The Wednesday of National SES Week is designated as 'Wear Orange Day', when the community is encouraged to wear orange to show their support for the Service and the volunteers at its heart.

StormSafe Week, in the last full week of September, is when the SES asks communities to prepare their properties and households for the coming summer storm season.

How can I help?

There are many roles that an SES volunteer can participate in, regardless of age, gender or ability. You need to be 16 years of age or above to join, and be keen to train in rescue, operation, training and/or community education / media.

SES volunteers are mostly seen by the public in their operational roles – helping people in floods and storms, supporting other agencies searching for lost and missing persons, evidence searches, bushfire support, community first response and road crash and vertical rescue.

To join the SES call the SES on 1800 201 000 or call your local SES Unit as listed in the White Pages.

Contact Us
SES State Headquarters
Level 6, 6-8 Regent Street
Wollongong NSW 2500
For general information phone: 1800 201 000
For emergency help: 132 500
Website: www.ses.nsw.gov.au