Ambulance Service Medal Determination – 28 April 2023

Legislation au C2023G00661 In force Gazette

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AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL

DETERMINATION

I, General the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting in pursuance of regulations 5 and 6 of the Ambulance Service Medal Regulations revoke the Ambulance Service Medal Determination made on the first day of September 2008, and hereby determine as follows (see note):

Main Piece

The Ambulance Service Medal, is a bi-metal construction of silver and bronze colouring in a circular shape, with shaping of the leaf pattern at the suspender bar, and is 38 millimetres in diameter at the circle shape. The obverse of the medal has a central raised traditional Maltese Cross bounded on either side by stylised sprays of wattle representing the Australian nature of the award. The arms of the cross have a raised border, brightly polished, while the inner arms are in a pebble-texture finish. The centre of the Maltese Cross has a bronze coloured insert, circular in shape with a raised impression of the Federation Star that is surrounded by twenty-four balls representing the twenty-four hours per day the ambulance service is available to the community. The circular portion of the medal obverse has a raised, polished rim. The reverse face of the medal has a semi-circular, raised and polished panel featuring the incised words 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE'. The rounded ends of the panel are in line with the bottom edge of the centre insert, which incorporates a bronze coloured insert, circular in shape, with a raised impression of the Federation Star. The area below the insert is available for engraving the recipient's name. The background of the reverse of the medal is of a finely textured or frosted finish. The silver suspender bar is of fixed configuration, with the raised and polished words 'AMBULANCE SERVICE' running the width of the ribbon on the obverse. The Ambulance Service Medal is suspended from a ribbon 32 millimetres wide by means of a narrow silver suspender bar. The ribbon has a 2mm black border down either side of the ribbon. The ribbon is in a single arrow shaped chevron pattern, directed towards the suspender bar. The angles of the chevron are similar to the open end of the Maltese Cross' arm. The chevron bands are 3.5mm thick and designed in a repeating pattern of red, white, red and silver-grey with a thin border of black in between each colour. The medal thickness is 3mm. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 45mm. The total height of the Main Piece is 94mm.

Miniature Piece

The Miniature Piece of the Ambulance Service Medal is a half-size replica of the Main Piece, suspended from a miniature ribbon 16 millimetres wide. The medal thickness is 2mm. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 22.5mm. The total height of the Miniature Piece is 47mm.

Lapel Badge

The Lapel Badge of the Ambulance Service Medal is a replica of the medal 10 millimetres in diameter.

Ribbon Bar

The Ribbon Bar of the Ambulance Service Medal consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high, with no emblem.

Wearing

The Ambulance Service Medal is worn on the left breast on all occasions when full-size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Miniature Piece is worn on all occasions when miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time on uniform or civilian dress at the discretion of the recipient. The Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The manner of wearing the Ambulance Service Medal is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.

Order of Wear

The Ambulance Service Medal is worn in accordance with The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.

Note

The Letters Patent approved by The Sovereign institutes the medal and ordains that the medal is governed by the Regulations Governing the Award of the Ambulance Service Medal. These Regulations, approved by The Sovereign, set out the terms and conditions of an award, and states that the design, and manner of wearing, of the medal is determined by the Governor General.

This document is known as the Determination and it informs the design of the medal, its associated insignia, and that the order of wearing is in accordance with The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards and the manner of wearing is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia. The design of the medal and associated insignia must be in accordance with the relevant technical specifications.

The placement of the medal is approved by The Sovereign, and the Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards is the notification by the Governor-General of the positioning of all awards in the Australian honours system.

These instruments collectively inform the rules and conditions associated with the Ambulance Service Medal.

Overview

The Ambulance Service Medal Determination, enacted by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, was issued under the authority of the Ambulance Service Medal Regulations, 2023. This determination revokes the previous Ambulance Service Medal Determination from 2008 and establishes the current design, specifications, and wearing protocol for the Ambulance Service Medal. The policy objective of this determination is to ensure that the Ambulance Service Medal accurately reflects the high standards of service and dedication of the recipients while maintaining consistency with other Australian honours and awards. The design of the medal and its associated insignia are meticulously detailed to uphold the prestige of the award and to provide a clear and recognisable symbol of distinguished service within the ambulance sector.

Scope and Application

The Ambulance Service Medal Determination establishes the design, appearance, and criteria for wearing the Ambulance Service Medal, a prestigious award recognising distinguished service within the Australian ambulance service sector. This Determination applies to the medal itself, its miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar, ensuring a consistent and dignified presentation of this honour. The design specifications outlined in the Determination mandate that the medal be a bi-metal construction with particular dimensions, colour, and symbolic elements that reflect the service's commitment to the community. The Determination applies to recipients of the Ambulance Service Medal, including individuals and possibly entities within the ambulance service sector who have rendered exceptional service. The medal is subject to the regulations governing the award of the Ambulance Service Medal, which are approved by The Sovereign and outline the terms and conditions for the award. The Determination also governs the placement and manner of wearing the medal, ensuring it is worn in accordance with the Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards and the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia. The scope of this Determination is confined to the visual and ceremonial aspects of the Ambulance Service Medal, and it does not extend to the substantive eligibility criteria or the nomination process for the award itself.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Ambulance Service Medal Determination (C2023G00661) primarily revolve around the detailed specifications and rules governing the design, wear, and order of the Ambulance Service Medal. The main operative sections, specifically section 1, dictate the physical attributes of the medal, including its dimensions, material, and design elements (section 2). Section 3 further describes the miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar, and section 4 outlines the protocols for wearing these insignias. Section 5 provides the order of wear for the medal within the Australian honours system. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties involved. Recipients and wearers of the Ambulance Service Medal must adhere to the specifications regarding the design and dimensions as outlined in the determination. The medal and its associated insignia, such as the miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar, must conform to the technical specifications and be worn in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia (section 4). Recipients must also ensure that the order of wear is in accordance with the Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards, which specifies the positioning of all awards in the Australian honours system (section 5). Any breaches of the provisions set forth in the Ambulance Service Medal Determination may result in civil or criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties, the seriousness of non-compliance could potentially lead to actions under the relevant laws governing honours and awards. Recipients found to be in violation of the design specifications or wearing protocols might face disciplinary actions or be required to correct their non-compliance. The determination itself serves as a formal notification and guideline, and while it does not specify penalties, adherence to the outlined rules is expected to maintain the integrity of the honours system.

Area of Law: Medals & Decorations
Instrument: Gazette Notice
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Repeal & Amendment; Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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