Bushfires 2019-20

The Bushfires 2019-20 was declared a nationally-significant emergency for the purpose of the National Emergency Medal on 2 December 2020, per the National Emergency Medal (Bushfires 2019-20) Declaration 2020.

Following the announcement of the National Emergency Medal (Bushfires 2019-20) Declaration 2020, the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat received feedback regarding the eligible emergency period for the local government area of Kangaroo Island. The National Emergency Medal Committee considered advice from Emergency Management Australia together with an independent review by the Government of South Australia and made a recommendation to the Minister that the end date for the eligible emergency period for Kangaroo Island is extended from 6 January 2020 to 6 February 2020.

On 18 December 2020, the Governor-General approved the National Emergency Medal (Bushfires 2019-20) Amendment (Kangaroo Island) Declaration 2020.

On 28 August 2022, the Governor-General approved the National Emergency Medal (Bushfires 2019-20) Amendment (Adelaide Hills) Declaration 2022.

Sustained service eligibility criteria

Bushfires 2019-20

Service during this nationally significant emergency will be recognised through the clasp, ‘BUSHFIRES 19-20’. The National Emergency Medal Committee determined the following criteria:

  • service must be in the protection of lives and property; or in the service of interests, that are not their own; in direct response to the emergency (including support that enables or facilitates the emergency response).
  • the geographical area in Australia where the declared emergency happened, are the Local Government Areas (LGA) listed in Schedule 1.
  • the qualifying period for each local government area is listed in Schedule 1. 
  • the minimum duration of service that a person is required to have completed to qualify for sustained service is 5 days (whether consecutive or not) each involving service in direct response to the declared emergency relating to a Schedule 1 local government area in an eligible emergency period for the area.

To submit an application for the National Emergency Medal with clasp 'BUSHFIRES 19-20', please contact your primary service organisation in the first instance.

If you rendered service as a private citizen, you can submit a nomination in the online portal.

For more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.