Victoria Civil Defence Organisation, established as a volunteer based civil defence agency in 1950, was renamed Victoria State Emergency Service in 1975. Its re-establishment as a general emergency management agency was completed with the Victoria State Emergency Service Act 1981. In 1979 it became a branch of the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services. It was re-established as a statutory authority under the Victoria State Emergency Service Act 2005; the Victoria State Emergency Service Authority is governed by a Board accountable to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Victoria State Emergency Service remains a volunteer oganisation.