Editing State Emergency Service (section)

==Functions==
The SES provides assistance to local communities in times of need. Because every community is different, every SES Unit has a slightly different set of roles and activities. Depending on the needs of the local community, a Unit may perform only some or all of these roles:

{| class="wikitable"
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! '''Function'''
! '''Description'''
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| Agency Support (Operational)
| Supporting other Emergency Services during incidents with lighting, human resources, marine transport, and other services.
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| Agency Support (Training)
| Supporting other Emergency Services, agencies, and community organisations with member participation, resources, and welfare.
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| Air Observation - Search
| Assisting in searches over land and sea from both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
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| Air Observation - Intelligence
| Gathering Flood Intelligence during events, emergency evacuation, remote area resupply, Reconnaissance of Flood and Storm effected areas. 
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| Air Support Operations
| Providing ground support for Emergency Aircraft Operations, notably the filling of water bomber aircraft during bushfire events.
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| Building Impact
| Minor USAR operations caused by motor vehicles crashing into buildings. SES units provide shoring to these buildings and temporary building stabilisation.
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| Communication Support Unit
| Provide communications support in difficult terrains. Install repeater radios and portable antennas. Co-ordinate other SES teams. Members are also trained to carry out the functions of other SES units.
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| Crowd and/or Traffic Control
| Assisting police and ambulance at public events like ANZAC Day in this capacity. Also assisting police with road closures during events like flooding and New Year celebrations.
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| Emergency services liaison
| Working with representatives of other emergency services during emergencies.
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| Evacuation Centre Management
| Establishing and running temporary evacuation centres.
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| Fire Support & Training
| Assisting the police and the rural and metropolitan fire services with road closures, evacuations, delivery of welfare during major fires, and some training like First Aid and Chainsaw Operations.
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| First Aid
| Aiding members of the public requiring basic medical aid and assisting ambulance officers and members of St. John Ambulance of Australia with triage and mass casualty situations
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| Flood and storm preparation and response
| Making temporary repairs and protecting property after floods and storms, helping people prepare for floods and storms and using specialised equipment like flood boats and chainsaws. 
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| General rescue procedures and skills
| Working safely to remove people from dangerous situations
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| Land Search
| Searching for missing persons usually in both rural and suburban areas. Land search ranges from street based searches, to scrub and woodland areas as well as mountain rescue.
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| Management
| Team which fill the administration roles at a unit level
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| Marine Rescue
| Working with the Coast Guard and other marine organizations in assisting boats in distress
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| Media, public relations and community education
| Working with the media and the public to communicate safety messages and warnings and to promote the SES to the community
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| Mines Rescue
| Some SES units have specific training to allow them to rescue trapped persons from inside collapsed mines
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| Road-crash rescue
| Providing mechanical intervention to crashed vehicles and extricating injured persons.
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| Swiftwater Rescue
| Rescue/recovery of persons trapped in inland waterways or floodwater with skills applicable to fast-flowing water.
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| Training coordination
| Helping to plan and carry out the training in a Unit. Nationally recognised subjects and courses are available to members.
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| Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
| Extending basic rescue techniques to situations such as collapsed or unstable structures, using specialised equipment such as after bombs or explosions
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| Vertical rescue
| Rescuing people from heights and depths such as cliffs or ravines
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| Tsunami & earthquake response
| Responding to and managing tsunami and earthquake events
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| Welfare
| Providing and administrating temporary field bases for activations, including meals, peer support, teas & coffees etc. The SES also runs a "driver reviver" scheme that aims to reduce accidents caused by fatigued drivers.
|}