National Emergency Medal

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The National Emergency Medal honours individuals who have provided sustained or significant service during nationally-declared emergencies in Australia, acknowledging extraordinary contributions in events such as floods, bushfires, and cyclones.

Summary

The National Emergency Medal is awarded for sustained or significant service during nationally-declared emergencies in Australia.
Eligible emergencies include events like the 2022 floods, 2019-20 bushfires, and Victorian Bushfires 2009.
Awards are given based on recommendations for sustained or extraordinary service, with criteria defined for each emergency.

Description

The National Emergency Medal is awarded to persons who rendered sustained or significant service during nationally-significant emergencies in Australia.

The National Emergency Medal Regulations 2011 were approved by Queen Elizabeth II in October 2011. The National Emergency Medal is administered by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House who provides secretariat support to the National Emergency Medal Committee. Applications for sustained or significant service may come from relevant organisations or from members of the community.

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Criteria

The Governor-General may approve an award for:

Sustained service on the recommendation of the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat

Sustained service is awarded to those who have rendered sustained service in the declared nationally-significant emergency for the purpose of the Medal. The criteria for sustained service stipulates what constitutes ‘sustained service’ for each emergency and is determined by the National Emergency Medal Committee, in considering advice from relevant organisations and jurisdictions.
Significant service on the recommendation of the National Emergency Medal Committee

Significant service is awarded to those who rendered significant service in the nationally-significant emergency. The significant service criteria stipulates that the service must be extraordinary. The Committee considers each nomination on a case-by-case basis before making a recommendation to the Governor-General. Applicants do not need to meet the sustained service criteria to be eligible to apply for significant service (e.g. minimum duration of service, eligible dates of service).

The below emergencies have been declared nationally-significant for the purposes of the National Emergency Medal: