State emergency services and voluntary emergency organisations are eligible for the award.
How it is awarded
The Governor-General awards the Emergency Services Medal on the recommendation of the responsible Commonwealth, state and territory ministers.
The medal may be awarded to a person who has given distinguished service as a member of an emergency service.
The medal may be awarded regardless of whether the person is eligible for any other award because of the service. However, a person who is already a holder of the medal is not eligible for another award of the medal.
The medal is awarded annually as follows:
- One medal for every 1000, or part of 1000, full-time permanent members of a State’s emergency service.
- One medal for every 5000, or part of 5000, part-time, volunteer or auxiliary members of a State’s emergency service.
- One additional medal to a full-time permanent member, part-time member, volunteer or auxiliary member
- One medal may be awarded each year for emergency service members in each of the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and the combined external Territories.
Awards are announced in January and June each year.
Only one award can be made to an individual. Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal ESM.
History
Along with the Ambulance Service Medal, the Emergency Services Medal was introduced into the Australian system of honours in 1999.
The Emergency Services Medal was established on 7 July 1999 by Letters Patent.
On 23 December 2021, amendments to the Emergency Services Medal Regulations were approved by Her Majesty the Queen enabling the recognition of COVID-19 related service above the annual quotas.
Medal design
The central motif of the Emergency Services Medal is a raised equilateral triangle with bevelled edges. This is bordered by stylised sprays of wattle.
The centre of the triangle features a raised impression of the Federation Star that is surrounded by twenty-four balls. The balls represent the twenty-four hours per day the Emergency Service is available to the community.
The back of the medal has the inscription ‘For Distinguished Service’.
The medal is silver and bronze colouring.
Medal ribbon
The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features a centre band of an orange and white checkerboard pattern, flanked on each outer edge by a royal blue band.