DETERMINED not to leave our heroes in the lurch, an irreplaceable Warwick-based organisation has responded to threats of closure by opening its doors wider than ever.

For the past 20 years, Warwick's branch of the Veterans Support and Advocacy Service Australia has been a safe haven and a second home for returned military citizens in our community.

But when the over-arching Brisbane-based organisation announced its decision to close, the Warwick branch of VSASA decided to forge its own path forward as the Southern Downs Ex-Services Association.

"We felt we offer such a good service to the ex-services community, and we were determined to offer a place for people to come and have a yarn and spend time with people who have had similar experiences,” president Ken Ashton said.

The new organisation will now provide a safe haven and second home not only to military veterans but to all emergency service personnel as well.

Mr Ashton said there was a growing public awareness of the trauma and post-traumatic stress that can stem from a career in the police, ambulance or fire services.

"We have very similar outlooks on life and very similar experiences in what they have been through attending accidents and things like this,” Mr Ashton said.

Warwick Fire Service station officer Darren Welsh said the changing nature of the fire service meant there was more risk of experiencing trauma among fire fighters.

"A big part of our job now is road crash rescues, cutting people out of cars or people who have very serious injuries,” Mr Welsh said.

"These days there are a whole range of accidents we go to opposed to 30 years ago.”

Mr Welsh said police and ambulance workers faced similar experiences.

"When we go to these accidents, the time after it you are thinking of your own family and loved ones and put them in that situation,” he said.

"Some of it can stay with you for a while. It affects people in different ways it is a bit of a shock to the system.”

Mr Ashton said the SDESA offered a place for people from military and service backgrounds to "have a cuppa” and talk with people who had been through similar experiences.

"This is welfare-based in that everything we do, even just sitting around having a chat, is classed as welfare,” he said.

SDESA held its inaugural dinner last Wednesday night, marking a turning point for support services in Warwick.

The organisation is based at 1 Tooth St and is open to existing and past members of military and service organisations.

For more information about the centre find SDESA on Facebook, email on warvet02@bigpond.com, phone on 4661 5099 or drop in on a Wednesday or Friday between 9am and 1pm.