Established in 1975,
Queensland State Emergency Service (SES)
evolved from the former Queensland Civil Defence Organisation that had been in operation since 1961.
Queensland SES was founded partly in response to the
devastating 1974 Queensland floods.
Fleet
Over the past 50 years, our fleet has undergone remarkable changes, reflecting advancements in technology, operational needs, and the growing challenges of disaster response across the state. In the early days, the fleet was a patchwork of vehicles. From helicopters to single-cab Jeeps, panel vans, and even a Mini, the vehicles of the time were often repurposed and adapted to meet the demands of emergency response.
Fast forward to the present, and the Queensland SES operates a diverse fleet including flood boats, purpose built trailers, and vehicles fitted out to respond to road crash rescue, storm damage, and incident management.
Technology
The evolution of technology has transformed the way the SES operates, enabling us to better serve Queensland communities. While analogue radios remain an essential tool in many areas, we've moved from hand-drawn maps and land-line phones to embracing innovations like drones, GPS, digital tasking systems, and advanced communication technologies. This ongoing transformation ensures we remain equipped to respond with greater efficiency, precision, and adaptability in an ever-changing world.
Uniform
While the orange overalls may seem synonymous with the SES, dark blue was the colour of the SES uniforms in its previous identity as the Civil Defence Organisation. In the mid-1970s, the SES changed from its navy blue uniform to the orange overalls Queenslanders are more familiar with today.
1971 - 1985
These years saw several major cyclones and significant flooding across Queensland. Tropical Cyclone Althea struck Townsville in December 1971, leading to widespread damage and prompting changes in building codes. Severe flooding affected greater Brisbane and regional Queensland in 1974, with the Brisbane River bursting its banks in one of the city's worst natural disasters. These floods were one of the motivating factors for the establishment of the Queensland State Emergency Service. 
1985–1995
Tropical Cyclone Winifred made landfall near Innisfail in early 1986, causing significant damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure. The 1990s also brought destructive storms, including a series of intense hailstorms impacting southeast Queensland. Flooding events occurred across central and western Queensland in the early 1990s, affecting agriculture and isolated communities.
1995–2005
This period included several cyclones such as Rona (1999) and Steve (2000), both of which impacted far north Queensland with heavy rainfall and wind damage. Flooding became more frequent, particularly in urban areas like Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The southeast was also hit by damaging storms in the early 2000s, highlighting vulnerabilities in urban drainage systems. Persistent drought conditions also characterised this period, placing strain on SES efforts in rural areas.
2005–2015
Tropical Cyclone Larry (2006) and Tropical Cyclone Yasi (2011) devastated far north Queensland, destroying banana crops and damaging infrastructure. The 2010–2011 summer floods inundated much of the state, with Brisbane, Toowoomba, and the Lockyer Valley among the hardest hit. These events led to major disaster recovery efforts and prompted reviews of floodplain management and emergency response protocols. The SES volunteers working tirelessly to help affected communities.
2015–2025
This decade saw Cyclone Debbie (2017) make landfall in the Whitsundays, causing widespread flooding from Mackay to Northern NSW. The 2019 monsoon trough in northwest Queensland brought record rainfall and severe flooding around Townsville. Increasingly intense and frequent bushfires, droughts, and heatwaves also became part of the severe weather landscape, reflecting a shift linked to climate change. Recent years have seen an increase in severe storm activity, such as the 2022 South East Queensland floods, highlighting the ongoing challenges for SES in managing diverse weather-related emergencies. Summer of 2025 saw three major disasters including the Northern floods, Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the South West floods, with SES receiving a record number of requests for assistance during TC Alfred.
Looking to the future with QLD SES Chief Officer, Dr Mark Armstrong CSC
The SES’ ability to respond swiftly and effectively to disasters and emergencies will require us to:
As we look forward to the next 50 years, I envisage the SES will continue to collaborate and build strong partnerships with the community and our strategic partners to identify community needs and engage appropriate prevention, preparedness, response and recovery measures.
Whilst the threat of natural disasters and emergencies seems to be increasing, I have no doubt the SES will remain at the forefront of disaster management and continue to be instrumental in creating safer communities.
