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 and earthquakes 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) and to municipal councils in support of their emergency management plans.
There are more than 5,000 volunteers and 200 employees spread across 150 units.
Responsibilities
Control Agency
Storm
Flood
Tsunami
Earthquake
Landslide
Support agency
Country Fire Authority (CFA) Victoria Police (VICPOL) Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) [Previously known as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB)] Ambulance Victoria (AV) Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
Activities
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:
Road Rescue
High Angle Rescue
Industrial Rescue
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Search and Rescue (SAR) Alpine Search and Rescue (ASAR) Land Based Swift Water Rescue (LBSWR) Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) General Land Rescue
VICSES is also called upon to assist other agencies with unique tasks, some include:
Victoria Police
Crime scene preservation
Evidence search
General assistance (lighting, temporary power, ladders, etc.). Ambulance Victoria Assist with patient carryouts Assist paramedics in difficult terrain (4WD/ATV/BOAT) Country Fire Authority Staging area management Incident Management Environmental Protection Authority Deployment of air quality monitoring equipment
Regions
VICSES is broken into 6 regions that cover the state of Victoria
Central Region (Melbourne Metropolitan) East Region (Gippsland) Mid West Region (Grampians) North East Region (Hume) North West Region (Loddon Malle) South West Region (Barwon South West)
Ranks
Volunteer Insignia
Staff Insignia
Vehicles, Trailers & Other Assets
Cars
Passenger Vehicles
Cars include a mixture of Ford, Holden, Subaru and Toyota
Mini-Van
Four Wheel Drives
Mixture of Nissan Patrol, Navara, Pathfinder, Ford Rangers, Everest & Toyota Hilux
Light Rescue
Mixture of chassis Ford, Mercedes & Iveco
Medium Rescue
Medium Rescue (2WD)
Equipment Body:
5 large and 3 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and, 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including LED locker lighting). Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 100W 24V LED lights (output 10,479 Lm per light). External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel. Martin power supply system capacity of 8 kVA with 8 x 10A GPO’s. Compressed air system delivering 10 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at 116psi. Bulbar fitted with HID driving lights. No tow bar fitted.
Equipment Capabilities:
Up to 1,000kg of tools and equipment
Multi purpose truck, i.e. capacity for storm and flood or RCR equipment.
Licence Requirements:
Light Rigid Licence
Medium Rescue (4WD)
Equipment Body:
5 large and 3 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and, 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including LED locker lighting). Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 24V LED lights. External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel. Martin power supply system - capacity of 8 kVA with 8 x 10A GPO’s. Compressed air system delivering 10 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at 116psi. Bulbar fitted with 15,000lb, 24v winch & HID driving lights No tow bar fitted.
Equipment Capabilities:
Up to 1,000kg of tools and equipment
Multi purpose truck, i.e. capacity for RAIR, Storm and Flood equipment.
Licence Requirements:
Light Rigid Licence
Heavy Rescue
Heavy Rescue Truck (2WD)
Equipment Body: