National Medal

The National Medal was created by Royal Warrant and is awarded by the Governor General to personnel in Australia's emergency services.

This award recognises prolonged exposure to hazard in the service of the community. It is available to operational members in approved organisations that protect life and property at some risk to their members. This includes government agencies such as ambulance, correctional, emergency, fire and police forces, and voluntary organisations such as lifesaving and search and rescue groups. The National Medal is Australia’s most awarded civilian medal.

Qualifying Service

• Fifteen years diligent service is required to qualify for the Medal.
• National Medal holders may be eligible for National Medal Clasps for each subsequent 10 years of diligent service.
• Service does not need to be continuous, only total service must meet this requirement.
• In some circumstances previous service in other approved organisations may be added to CFA service and counted toward the National Medal.

Criteria

In order to be eligible for a National Medal the member being nominated must meet each of the following four criteria:

1. At least 15 years diligent service directly contributing to the primary function of CFA
   The 'diligent' service required for the National Medal means a nominated person would need to have displayed a high level of dedication to the organisation. The nominated person would also need to have been involved in a broad range of operational activities on a continual basis.
   
   The primary functions of CFA are fire prevention and fire suppression. These are established by legislation. (S14 of CFA Act 1958)


2. Fully Trained for the entire period
   The individual must have maintained an appropriate level of competence sufficient to be able to carry out fire prevention and suppression duties for the whole of the relevant period. This should be through attendance at organised training or activities.
   


3. Fit for duty for the entire period
   Any period where the individual was not physically fit for fire prevention and suppression duties, such as illness, injury or on restricted duties shall not be included in the calculation of the eligible service.
   


4. Engaged as an operational member, or ready and able to participate in that function for the whole period
   The application must indicate that the nominated member was involved in, or trained, competent and available to be deployed for fire prevention or suppression duties at all times throughout the period of service in question. Engagement in these duties does not have to constitute the member’s role in the brigade; however, it must be shown that the member does meet this base criterion.

Nominations

Applications for the National Medal and National Medal Clasp must be fully documented, listing the diligent service. Application forms for the National Medal and National Medal Clasp are available from CFA Regional Headquarters. Applications for the Medal and Clasp are made in the form of a nomination signed by two (2) officers from the nominated members brigade or appropriate group.

All applications are to be forwarded to the Operations Manager for comment, recommendation and transmission to Member Services at CFA Headquarters.

Only the Chief Officer can make the final recommendation to the Honours Secretariat, Canberra

Medal Design

The National Medal is a circular bronze medal 38 millimetres in diameter ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The front of the medal features the Commonwealth Coat of Arms in a recessed circle. The rim of the medal carries the inscription ‘The National Medal’. The back of the medal is engraved with the recipient’s name. The medal was designed by Mr Stuart Devlin AO CMG.

Medal Ribbon

• The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features 15 alternating gold and blue vertical stripes.
• The medal is complemented with a miniature and ribbon bar.

Recipients

Please refer to the Australian government website 'It's an Honour' for a list of recipients.