SES Week launches with celebrations and awards ceremonies held across the state

• From August 24 to August 31, thousands of State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers will be celebrated at SES Week events across Queensland.
• Communities across Queensland held regional award ceremonies today, to acknowledge their high achievers.

Each year Queensland celebrates the outstanding contribution of SES volunteers, with SES Week which runs from August 24 to 31.

SES Week brings Queenslanders together to applaud the passion, hard work and commitment of SES personnel to serving the community.

SES volunteers respond to a range of disasters and emergencies including floods, storms, searches, road crash rescues and more, with their exceptional efforts honoured at awards ceremonies across the state.

Each of the seven regions held a regional award ceremony on August 24 to acknowledge their high achievers.

SES Week specific awards were presented in the regions under the following categories: Regional Young Member of the Year; Regional Member of the Year; Regional Unit or Group of the Year; Regional Operational Response of the Year; Regional Trainer of the Year and SES Week Certificates.

SES volunteers are integral to the broader government response in times of substantial community need, covering prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery (PPRR). Beyond emergency response, SES volunteers provide community education and support for various events, such as local festivals, sports events, and agricultural shows.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Police and Community Safety, Mark Ryan:

“SES Week is a chance for every Queenslander to take the time to thank the State Emergency Service for the outstanding work they do.

“All volunteers across the state work extremely hard and sacrifice their personal time to not only help in emergencies, but to attend training and readiness sessions. Thank you to all the outstanding volunteers for your support and dedication.

Quotes attributable to Mr Mark Armstrong, Chief Officer, SES

“Our SES volunteers truly embody the Queensland spirit and do whatever it takes to keep Queenslanders safe.

“SES Week marks an important event in the calendars of our staff and volunteers. It provides the opportunity to honour the hard work and dedication that the SES provides to the communities of Queensland.

“Our volunteers make a difference every day. SES volunteers are the heart and soul of our emergency and rescue service, always ready to respond to emergencies 24/7, 365 days a year.”