National Emergency Medal

The National Emergency Medal (NEM) was instituted in October 2011 for award to members of eligible organisations or individuals who rendered qualifying service in response to nationally significant emergencies within Australia.

Eligibility

Individuals must satisfy the prescribed eligibility criteria within the response phase of the declared emergency. Individuals who rendered service in the recovery phase of and served outside of the date ranges specified in a determination are not eligible for this award.

All organisations that participate during an emergency are subject to the same eligibility criteria.

The eligibility requirements for each emergency differ. Further information can be found on the Governor-General’s website.

ADF personnel are not required to submit an application for the NEM. Defence Honours and Awards in conjunction with Headquarters Joint Operations Command and the Services, draw a nominal roll from operations logs sourced from PMKeyS. A list of eligible personnel is provided to Government House for approval.

Clasps

On 11 June 2024, The Hon Patrick Gorman MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Assistant Minister for the Public Service, announced the introduction of an additional clasp for the NEM - “Flood Feb 2022”.

The following clasps have been issued for the medal:

  • VIC Fires 09
  • QLD 2010-11
  • TC Debbie 2017
  • Nth QLD 2019
  • Bushfires 19-20
  • Flood Feb 2022.

Source documents

Letters Patent and Regulations (Gazette S169) of 28 October 2011 (DOC, 116 KB)

National Emergency Medal Operation Bushfire Assist 2019-2020 Declaration (PDF, 809.04 KB)

National Emergency Medal (Floods February 2022) Declaration 2024 (PDF, 467.48 KB)

Factsheets

Tropical Cyclone Debbie 2017 Fact Sheet (PDF, 386.86 KB)

North Queensland Floods 2019 (PDF, 345.42 KB)

Bushfires 2019-2020 (PDF, 301.41 KB)

Floods February 2022 (PDF, 300.52 KB)

Contacts

Defence honours and awards
BP33-1
PO Box 7952
Canberra BC ACT 2610