National Emergency Medal Determination
The Determination outlines:
- the design of the medal, miniature, ribbon, ribbon bar and clasp; and
- how they should be worn.
National Emergency Medal Determination - 2014
I, SIR PETER COSGROVE, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, having the approval of Her Majesty The Queen to the design of the National Emergency Medal, and acting in pursuance of regulations 7 and 8 of the Regulations Governing the Award of the National Emergency Medal hereby determine as follows:
1. Design
The National Emergency Medal is circular, 38 millimetres in diameter, and finished in nickel-silver. The Medal is suspended from a 32 millimetre wide riband by means of a fixed nickel-silver suspender bar featuring the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The central image is a stylised representation of Australia’s national floral emblem, the wattle, and complements the design of the companion medal, the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. The image around the central image is of flowering wattle, representing the accomplishments and sacrifices made by Australians in the service of others in times of crisis. The back of the Medal repeats the ring of flowering wattle and includes the words 'FOR SERVICE TO OTHERS IN A NATIONAL EMERGENCY' and space to engrave the name of the recipient.
2. Miniature
The miniature of the National Emergency Medal is a half-size replica of the Medal suspended from a miniature ribbon 16 millimetres wide.
3. Ribbon
The National Emergency Medal is suspended from a ribbon, 32 millimetres wide, by means of a narrow nickel-silver suspender bar. The colours of the ribbon are gold and eucalyptus green. Gold symbolises the Australian sun, optimism and hope. Eucalyptus green complements the symbolism of the medal design. The seven gold coloured bands represent Australia's six states, with the seventh representing the territories. The ribbon, in order left to right, 6 millimetre band of eucalyptus green, 20 millimetre band of metallic gold and eucalyptus green stripes (7 x gold stripes 2 millimetres wide and eucalyptus stripes 1 millimetre wide) and 6 millimetre band of eucalyptus green.
4. Ribbon Bar
The ribbon bar of the National Emergency Medal consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres deep, with no emblem.
5. Clasp
The award of the clasp to the National Emergency Medal is recorded by a bar 37 millimetres wide and 6 millimetres deep and worn on the riband 10 millimetres from the ribbon slot. Any further clasps are worn an additional 10 millimetres above the preceding clasp, unless four or more clasps in which case they are to be spaced evenly.
6. Wearing
The National Emergency Medal shall be worn on the left breast on all occasions when full-size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The miniature Medal is worn on all occasions when miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The ribbon bar may be worn with all forms of dress at the discretion of the holder. However, it should not be worn at the same time as full-size or miniature medals.
7. Order of Wear
The National Emergency Medal is worn in accordance with The Order of Wearing Australian Honour and Awards and is placed immediately after the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal as approved by The Sovereign.
Dated this 4th day of July 2014
His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd)
GOVERNOR-GENERAL