National Emergency Medal (Australia)

National Emergency Medal
Ribbon bar of the medal
Awarded by Australia
Type	Medal
Eligibility	Members of identified organisations or individuals who rendered sustained service during specified dates in specified places in response to nationally significant emergencies within Australia
Awarded for	Sustained service
Status	Currently awarded
Clasps	Vic Fires 09 Qld 2010–11
Statistics
Established	23 October 2011
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
Next (lower)	Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
Related	Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal

The National Emergency Medal is an award of the Australian honours system given for sustained service during a nationally significant emergency. The medal was established by Her Majesty The Queen in October 2011. The medal is awarded for events specifically set out by regulation or may be awarded upon the recommendation of the National Emergency Medal Committee for significant service.

The National Emergency Medal is a circular medal, ensigned with the Australian Coat of Arms. The obverse depicts a central image of a Golden Wattle branch. Surrounding the image at the edge is a further depiction of the flowering wattle. The center of the reverse has the same border as the obverse, but in the center it details by inscription the award and the recipient.

The National Emergency Medal ribbon colours match the colours of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal ribbon. The colours of the ribbon are gold and eucalyptus green. Gold symbolises the Australian sun, optimism and hope. Eucalyptus green complements the symbolism of the medal design. The seven gold coloured bands represent Australia’s six states, with the seventh representing the territories.

Those who performed service during the Black Saturday bushfires and meet certain criteria are recognized with the "Vic Fires 09" clasp. Requirements include:

Those who performed service during the Queensland Floods and Cyclone Yasi and met certain criteria are recognized by the "Qld 2010–11" clasp. Requirements include:

As of May 2014 the number of recipients listed in the Australian Honours database has increased. It is well known that this medal has been awarded in far greater numbers than this, however the roll has not been updated for reasons unknown.

As of June 30, 2013, 6,186 National Emergency Medals have been awarded, including 84 for Significant Service. Five people have been recognised for service in both the Queensland and Victorian emergencies.

The criteria for award of the National Emergency Medal has been criticised as not honouring the efforts of many volunteers. Due to safety issues many volunteers were rotated out of disaster areas after a few days and unable to spend the required amount of time on the ground in the disaster area to qualify for the medal.