I am pleased to announce that The Queen has approved two new medals in the
Australian system of honours and awards, an Ambulance Service Medal
and an Emergency Services Medal. These new awards complement the
existing Australian Police Medal and the Australian Fire Service
Medal.
The new medals will recognise distinguished service by the men and women
of our ambulance and emergency service organisations across the nation.
The status of the awards will be reflected in their placement in the order
of precedence of Australian honours and awards together with other civilian
awards recognising distinguished and meritorious service. Recipients of
the medals will have an entitlement to the letters "ASM" or "ESM"
respectively after their name.
The Emergency Services Medal will be available to members of both
state emergency services and voluntary emergency organisations.
Only a strictly limited number of medals will be awarded to members, either
full-time or part-time, and volunteers each year. These awards provide recognition
beyond the National Medal that was extended to members of voluntary
search and rescue groups by the government in August this year to recognise
long service.
There are at present 11,000 persons serving in ambulance services in Australia
and 55,000 in state emergency services together with thousands more who
serve in voluntary search and rescue groups. The establishment of medals
to recognise distinguished service in ambulance and emergency services is
a further instance of this government taking action to recognise those who
serve, whether on a career or voluntary basis, in times of community and
personal crisis. Australians value these services highly and it is therefore
appropriate that those men and women who serve their community selflessly
and to the highest standards have their achievements marked by the nation.
On behalf of all Australians, I thank those who serve us in ambulance and
emergency service organisations and who may now have their distinguished
service recognised.