Unit Volunteers

Be part of a great team as a Unit Volunteer with NSW SES

Every NSW SES volunteer is part of a team of over 10,000 highly-trained professionals across the state who share a commitment to helping their communities. NSW SES volunteers come from all walks of life and bring a wide range of skills, experiences and backgrounds to the roles they perform.

There are lots of roles that you can do depending on what you like and what you want to learn. Whether providing on-the-ground support, assisting in operational support roles or raising community awareness through education programs, there are many ways to be part of NSW SES.

NSW SES has a spectrum of membership options and includes members who attend training every week, to those who maintain their skills and attend only when required. It includes members with specific skills, and members who have a more diverse skill set. The spectrum is broad to encourage a diverse volunteer workforce with the skills and experience required to meet community needs.

Are you ready to get involved? Apply Now

Can I become a Unit Volunteer if I am under 18 years old? Volunteers can join the NSW SES at ages 16 and 17 but must complete a Parent and Guardian Consent form at the time of joining.

Volunteers aged under 18 can still participate in most NSW SES activities but cannot attend incidents which may involve trauma, such as Road Crash Rescue.

Meet Daniel Doody, a Unit Volunteer with the NSW SES:

Learn more about NSW SES roles here:

What is the process to become a member of the NSW SES?

Volunteering for NSW SES can be the most rewarding experience. The NSW SES values people who can offer different skills and experiences to meet a wide range of community needs.

Please commence the process and apply now.

Apply Now

Your form will stay in draft for 30 days before being deleted. You will be provided a link to your draft application by an email notification when you save your progress.

Upon completion of your application you will receive an email notification confirming that it has been submitted for processing.

The information in your application will then be validated. You will receive an email notification advising progression of your application.

Once your form is validated you will receive an email to be invited to attend an interview with the NSW SES Unit you are seeking to join. The interview will cover what your expectations are as a volunteer of the NSW SES, what your voluntary role will involve and what the NSW SES expects of its Members. You are required to bring 100 points of identification to the interview.

It is important for the NSW SES to make an assessment about each applicant’s suitability for membership because our volunteers hold a position of trust within the community. Background checks are an important step in this process, and a National Police History Check will be conducted when your application is recommended by the NSW SES Unit. An email notification will be sent to you advising progression of your application.

If your application for membership is successful, you will be accepted as a probationary member of the unit for a minimum period of three months. During this time you can undertake some activities and training, and at the end of the probationary period if deemed suitable you will be accepted as a Unit Member.

How do I check the status of my application?

Thank you for applying to become a member of the NSW State Emergency Service.

To check the status of your application please use the SELF HELP DASHBOARD. Simply enter your first and last name, date of birth and the email address you put on your application.

If you require additional details on the status of your application please email membership@ses.nsw.gov.au with your enquiry, noting your first and last name, date of birth and the email address you put on your application.