Media contacts

Contacting the SES

The New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) is dedicated to providing all media outlets with accurate information in a timely manner.

Media outlets requiring information should phone the SES on-call media pager number:

(02) 4225 7500

This pager is a 24/7 service. Depending on the volume of calls, the on-call SES Media Officer will generally respond within 5-10 minutes. The on-call Media Officer can arrange for overviews of the incident/event, interviews with volunteers or staff, specific information related to particular areas and vision.

Please note that vision, particularly where damage is scattered across a wide area, may be difficult to source.  

Matters on which the SES can provide comment:

1.      The SES is the lead agency for floods, storms (including thunderstorms, windstorms, hailstorms and snowstorms), tropical cyclones and tsunamis. The SES is able to comment on the location and nature of damage, number of SES Units active, number of volunteers in the field, nature of work volunteers are undertaking and names of supporting agencies. In the case of a flood the SES is able to comment on current and expected river rises, areas inundated and on evacuations should these be required. The SES is not able to comment on deaths or injuries. Enquiries relating to road closures should be directed to the RTA or local council in the affected area. Enquiries regarding deaths and injuries should be directed to the NSW Ambulance Service.

2.      The SES is the largest provider of road crash rescue in country NSW. The SES responds to road crash rescue at the request of the Police. The SES is able to comment on the work undertaken by volunteers and is not able to comment on the cause of an accident, deaths or the number and type of injuries. In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to Police Media.

3.      The SES also assists the Rural Fire Service in some fire operations. This is generally in a behind-the-scenes operational and logistics capacity. The SES is not able to comment on the location or nature of fires, their projected impact or any deaths or injuries resulting from them. In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to the Rural Fire Service.

4.      The SES may be requested by the Police to assist in searches for missing persons, evidence of crimes and rescue of people from heights and depths (vertical rescue). The SES is able to comment on the work undertaken by volunteers and is not able to comment on the cause of an accident or incident, deaths or the number and type of injuries or personal details of a missing person, or the nature of any evidence being searched for. In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to Police Media.

5.      The SES may be requested by the Police to assist in the event of certain major natural disasters not part of the SES core responsibilities such as a landslide (eg Thredbo) or earthquake (eg Newcastle). SES volunteers may be involved in search and rescue, logistics, media and other behind-the-scenes functions. The SES is able to comment on the work undertaken by volunteers and is not able to comment on the nature of or cause of the disaster, deaths or the number and type of injuries. In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to Police Media.

6.      The SES may be requested by the Police to assist due to a man-made disasters such as a terrorist attack or major train crash. In the Sydney CBD SES volunteers may act as terror marshalls and perform behind the scenes operational and media functions. SES volunteers may be asked to assist in search and rescue operations. The SES is able to comment on the work undertaken by volunteers and staff and is not able to comment on the nature of or cause of an incident, deaths or the number and type of injuries. In the first instance all enquiries should be directed to Police Media.

The SES would appreciate if SES volunteers were referred to as volunteers and NOT workers.

We hope that the above information will assist you in obtaining the information that you require. It would be appreciated if this information can be forwarded to all journalists, producers and announcers.