History

The Ambulance Service Medal was introduced in 1999 and it is conferred upon members of the Australian Ambulance Service in recognition of distinguished service.

Nominations for the Medal are made by the responsible minister in each Australian state and territory, and the award itself is conferred by the Governor-General.

The number of yearly awards may not exceed the following quotas:

A medal is awarded to 1 out of every 1,000 permanent full-time members of a state ambulance service. A medal is conferred to one out of every 5,000 volunteer or auxiliary members in a state. An award is conferred to a single ambulance member in each of the following: the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and the combined External Territories.

The obverse of the medal features a silver Maltese cross with a bronze Federation Star in the centre. The star is encircled by twenty-four raised circles, which signify the around-the-clock availability of the Ambulance Service. The reverse of the medal features the inscription “FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.”

Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters ASM.