History

The Emergency Services Medal was instituted on 7 July 1999 to recognise members of an Australian emergency service who have rendered outstanding service relating to emergency situation management, education, and training.

Each Australian emergency service or organisation is allowed to award one medal for every 1,000 full-time members of the service, and one medal for every 5,000 part-time or volunteer members of the service. Every calendar year, one medal is awarded for the Australian Capital Territory, and one is awarded for all external Territories.

The obverse of the medal features a triangle surrounded by sprays of golden wattle. In the centre of the triangle, there is a golden Federation Star surrounded by twenty-four metal balls. The twenty-four balls represent the 24/7 availability of the emergency services. The reverse of the medal features the inscription ‘FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE’. The medal is attached to an orange and white checkered ribbon with navy blue edges.

Recipients of the Medal are not eligible to receive the award again. Recipients are entitled to use the postnominal letters ‘ESM’.