EMERGENCY SERVICES MEDAL
DETERMINATION
I, General the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting in pursuance of regulations 6 and 7 of the Emergency Services Medal Regulations revoke the Emergency Service Medal Determination made on the first day of September 2008, and hereby determine as follows (see note):
Main Piece
The Emergency Services Medal is a bi-metal construction of silver and bronze colouring in a circular shape 38 millimetres in diameter. The medal is surmounted by a silver suspender bar of fixed configuration, with the raised and polished words 'EMERGENCY SERVICES' running the width of the ribbon on the obverse. The obverse of the medal has a central motif of a raised equilateral triangle device with the edges bevelled and top surface polished and bounded on all sides by stylised sprays of wattle representing the Australian nature of the award. The centre of the equilateral triangle has a bronze coloured insert, circular in shape with a raised impression of the Federation Star. This device is surrounded by a circlet of twenty-four balls representing the twenty-four hours per day emergency services are available to the community. The circular portion of the medal obverse has a raised and polished rim. The reverse bears 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 overall background is of a finely textured or frosted finish. All highlight points of the award are a polished finish. The ribbon of the Emergency Services Medal is 32 millimetres wide and features a centre band of an orange and white checkerboard pattern 25 millimetres wide, with five squares, each square being 5 millimeters square. The checkerboard pattern is flanked on each outer edge by a royal blue band 3.5 millimetres wide. The medal thickness is 3mm. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 46mm. The total height of the Main Medal is 92mm.
Miniature Piece
The Miniature Piece of the Emergency Services 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 23mm. The total height of the Miniature Piece is 46mm.
Lapel Badge
The Lapel Badge of the Emergency Services Medal is a replica of the medal, 10 millimetres in diameter.
Ribbon Bar
The Ribbon Bar ofthe Emergency Services Medal consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high, with no emblem.
Wearing
The Emergency Services 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 Emergency Services Medal is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.
Order of Wear
The Emergency Services 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 Emergency Services 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 Emergency Services Medal.
Overview
The Emergency Services Medal Determination 2023 (Gazette C2023G00651) was enacted by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General the Honourable David Hurley, in accordance with the Emergency Services Medal Regulations. This determination revokes the previous Emergency Services Medal Determination made in 2008 and establishes new specifications for the design, insignia, and wearing of the Emergency Services Medal. The policy objective behind this legislation is to recognise and honour the distinguished service of members of emergency services organisations, including police, fire, and ambulance services, who demonstrate exceptional dedication and bravery in their roles. The new design of the medal and its associated insignia reflect the nature and significance of their contributions to the community. The manner of wearing the medal and its associated insignia is prescribed to ensure consistency and respect within the Australian honours system.
Scope and Application
The Emergency Services Medal Determination, established under the Emergency Services Medal Regulations, outlines the design, insignia, and guidelines for wearing the Emergency Services Medal. The Act applies to individuals who have been awarded the Emergency Services Medal, a recognition of distinguished service within emergency services. The Emergency Services Medal, as described in the Determination, is a bi-metal construction medal with specific dimensions and design elements, including a central motif of an equilateral triangle, a bronze coloured insert of the Federation Star, and a ribbon featuring a distinctive checkerboard pattern. The medal is accompanied by various insignia such as a miniature piece, a lapel badge, and a ribbon bar, each with specific wearing instructions. The Order of Wear for the medal follows the guidelines set forth in The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards. The Determination provides clear instructions on how the medal and its associated insignia should be worn, ensuring consistency and respect within the Australian honours system. The design and specifications for the medal are mandated to adhere to the technical details outlined in the document, ensuring uniformity in the appearance of the award.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this legislation concern the design and specifications of the Emergency Services Medal and its associated insignia, such as the miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar. Section 1 outlines the physical dimensions and design of the main medal, specifying its bi-metal construction, diameter, and the features on both the obverse and reverse sides, including the central motif, circlet of balls, and the text "FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE". Section 2 details the miniature piece, which is a half-size replica of the main medal with its own specific dimensions and design. Section 3 describes the lapel badge, which is a small replica of the medal, while Section 4 specifies the design of the ribbon bar. Section 5 addresses the wearing of the medal, miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar, detailing when and how they should be worn, whether on uniform or civilian dress. Finally, Section 6 states that the medal is to be worn in accordance with the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
The obligations imposed by this Act primarily concern the adherence to the specified design and wearing protocols for the Emergency Services Medal and its associated insignia. Recipients and entities involved in the production and distribution of the medal must ensure that the physical attributes of the medal, miniature piece, lapel badge, and ribbon bar conform to the technical specifications provided in the legislation. This includes the precise dimensions, materials, and design elements that must be replicated accurately. Furthermore, there is an obligation on recipients to wear the medal and its associated insignia in the manner prescribed, whether on full-size orders, miniatures, uniform, or civilian dress, in compliance with the guidelines set out in the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia and the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences detailed within this legislation for breach of the design or wearing provisions of the Emergency Services Medal. However, the precise adherence to the specified design and wearing protocols is critical, as any deviation from these rules could potentially lead to the medal being deemed ineligible for official recognition or display. The enforcement of these provisions would likely be handled through internal administrative processes within the relevant governmental or military bodies, rather than through formal legal penalties. The integrity and prestige of the Emergency Services Medal depend on strict compliance with the regulations, and any breach could undermine the significance of the award.