The National Medal is an Australian award given for long service by operational members of specified eligible organisations. It was introduced in 1975, as an original component of the new Australian honours system, and replaced a range of medals available to military and civilian uniformed services for long service and good conduct. The eligible groups have in common that their members serve or protect the community at the risk of death, injury or trauma, hence it is only available to members of the eligible organisations who are operationally deployed. In the case of corrective services, eligibility is restricted to officers with custodial duties.

Description The National Medal is a circular bronze medal, ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse shows the arms of the commonwealth of Australia within a rim carrying the inscription "The National Medal for Service" in capital letters. The reverse is plain. The -wide ribbon has 15 alternating gold and blue stripes. These colours are the livery colours of Australia, derived from the torse of the coat of arms of Australia. The clasp is a bronze bar having 10 raised hemispheres. When the ribbon is worn alone, the award of a clasp is indicated by a ribbon emblem in the form of a representation of the medal.

History The award was originally available to members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Australian police services, fire services and ambulance services. Eligible service was only counted after a person turned 18, and service had to be continuous.

In 1982, the ADF withdrew from the National Medal, with the introduction of the Defence Force Service Awards (comprising the Defence Force Service Medal, the Reserve Force Decoration and the Reserve Force Medal). Even now, however, ADF service can be counted towards the National Medal under certain circumstances. At the same time, it was made explicit that service would be taken into account for the award regardless of whether it was full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid. This allowed volunteer fire fighters to qualify for the medal.

In 1986, the Australian Protective Service was admitted to eligibility, followed in 1987 by the Australian correctional services and Australian emergency services.

In 1999, the regulations governing the National Medal were completely revised and re-issued by Letters Patent to modify many points of eligibility, and to allow the addition of government and voluntary search and rescue organisations without the need to seek amendments to the Letters Patent by the monarch. The governor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia can now determine, by written instrument, that additional organisations are eligible.

National Police Service Medal On 2 March 2011, the Australian Government announced that Queen Elizabeth II had signed Letters Patent on Tuesday 9 November 2010 instituting a new award within the Australian honours and awards system to accord "recognition for the unique contribution and significant commitment of those persons who have given ethical and diligent service as a sworn member of an Australian police service." This new award is to be known as the National Police Service Medal. All Australian police will now receive the National Police Service Medal to recognise their contribution to policing, as well as the National Medal to recognise their long service upon completion of 15 years ethical and diligent service.

Eligibility Government organisations # Organisation Approved Period of eligible service 1 Australian Defence Force 30 April 1987 14 February 1975 to 19 April 1982 2 Australian police force's 14 February 1975 14 February 1975 to Present 3 Australian fire service's 14 February 1975 14 February 1975 to Present 4 Australian ambulance service's 14 February 1975 14 February 1975 to Present 5 Australian Protective Service 1 April 1986 1 April 1986 to Present 6 Australian correctional service's 30 April 1987 30 April 1987 to Present 7 Australian emergency service's 30 April 1987 30 April 1987 to Present 8 St John Ambulance Australia 18 June 1999 1 January 1987 to Present 9 Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary 4 April 2000 1 December 1973 to 14 February 1975 10 Public Transport Commission Security Services 30 April 1987 20 October 1972 to 30 June 1980 11 State Rail Authority, Investigation Branch 30 April 1987 1 July 1980 to 8 March 1988 12 New South Wales Police Force Special constables 9 March 1988 9 March 1988 to 25 May 1999 13 Australian Customs and Border Protection Service 23 September 2011 16 December 1999 to Present 14 Office of the Sheriff of New South Wales 23 September 2011 3 February 1988 to Present 15 Public Transport Authority, Security Officers (Transit Officers) and Special Constables 12 February 2019 17 March 1995 to Present 16 Junee Correctional Centre, custodial staff 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 17 Parklea Correctional Centre, custodial staff 23 September 2011 31 October 2009 to Present 18 Fulham Correctional Centre, custodial staff 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 19 Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, custodial staff 25 July 2013 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 20 Port Phillip Prison, custodial staff 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 21 Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, custodial staff 23 September 2011 1 July 1992 to Present 22 Borallon Correctional Centre, custodial staff 23 September 2011 2 January 1989 to Present 23 Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, custodial staff 25 July 2013 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 24 Acacia Prison, custodial staff 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 25 Mount Gambier Prison, custodial staff 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 26 South Australian Prisoner Movement, custodial staff 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by custodial staff 27 Sheriffs Office of the Courts Administration Authority of South Australia 5 August 2022 30 November 1978 to Present 28 Transport for NSW, Rail Fire and Emergency Unit for Sydney Trains 9 March 2025 The day those functions were first performed by accredited fire and emergency services officers

Volunteer organisations # Organisation Approved Period of eligible service Notes 1 Australian Volunteer Coast Guard 28 April 2000 7 August 1970 to Present 1 Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol 3 July 2000 13 June 1963 to Present 1 South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron 14 August 2000 18 May 1962 to Present 1 Surf Life Saving Australia 16 October 2000 18 September 1986 to Present 1 New South Wales Volunteer Rescue Association 19 February 2001 4 July 1988 to Present 1 Mornington Volunteer Marine Rescue 18 April 2001 5 February 1990 to Present 1 Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service 19 May 2004 11 September 1996 to Present 1 Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland 23 March 2005 11 September 1996 to Present Merged with the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Queensland in 2024 to form the Marine Rescue Queensland under the Queensland Police Service 1 Queensland Mines Rescue Service 5 August 2022 10 November 1997 to Present 1 Queensland Remote Area Tracking 5 August 2022 22 March 2017 to Present 1 Volunteer Marine Rescue Service of Western Australia 12 February 2019 The day those functions were first performed by operational personnel 1 Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad 11 April 2007 28 November 1984 to Present 1 Marine Rescue New South Wales 23 September 2011 1 July 2009 to Present 1 Tasmanian Mounted Search and Rescue 23 September 2011 The day those functions were first performed by members 1 Australian Ski Patrol Association 12 February 2019 22 March 1990 to Present 1 Royal Life Saving Society Queensland 20 March 2025 The day those operations were first performed by volunteer members 1 Bush Search and Rescue Victoria 29 April 2026 The day those operations were first performed by volunteer members

Nominations The chief officer of each eligible organisation is authorised to recommend to the governor-general that an award be made to a member of their organisation. Where a person's eligible service spans several organisations, it is the current, or most recent chief officer who makes the recommendation. Organisations periodically submit schedules of multiple awards to Government House rather than sending them one at a time. The process is the same for awards of clasps indicating a further 10 years of service.

Documentation The regulations governing the award, a list of eligible organisations, and the Chief Officers Manual for the National Medal are available from the National Medal page of the Australian honours website.

See also Australian honours and awards system Australian Honours Order of Wearing

References

External links National Medal, It's an Honour – Australian Government site. National Medal fact sheet, It's an Honour – Australian Government site. The National Medal, ADF Honours and Awards