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National Medal (Australia)
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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 defence forces 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, defence force 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 (i.e. the state-based and constituted civil emergency response 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 Queen. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia can now determine, by written instrument, that additional organisations are eligible.
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.
To qualify a person must have served an eligible organisation for at least 15 years in the primary function, and the chief officer of the organisation must assess their service as "diligent". From 1999 service did not have to be continuous, and the only restriction on counting service with several eligible organisations is that simultaneous service with more than one organisation is only counted once (i.e. no double-counting). Service must include at least one day on or after 14 February 1975 (the day the award was established) and at least one day on or after the "approval date" for at least one organisation served. For the original organisations (police, fire, ambulance, defence) the "approval date" is 14 February 1975. Other organisations have approval dates as determined by the Governor-General, which ensures that a person whose service entirely pre-dates approval as an eligible organisation can't claim the award.
Australian Honours System
-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...
, 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 bronzeBronzeBronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
medal, ensigned with the Crown of St EdwardSt. Edward's CrownSt Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
. The obverse shows the Arms of the Commonwealth of AustraliaCoat of arms of AustraliaThe coat of arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on...
within a rim carrying the inscription 'THE NATIONAL MEDAL FOR SERVICE'. - The reverse is plain.
- The 32mm-wide ribbon has 15 alternating gold and blue stripes. The colours were the national colours of Australia at the time of introduction.
- The clasp is a bronze bar having 10 raised hemispheresSphereA sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
. 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 ForceAustralian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
, 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 defence forces withdrew from the National Medal, with the introduction of the Defence Force Service Awards (comprising the Defence Force Service Medal
Defence Force Service Medal
The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force...
, the Reserve Force Decoration
Reserve Force Decoration
The Reserve Force Decoration is an Australian Military award given for long service by officers of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence Force Service Medal and the Reserve Force Medal The Reserve Force...
and the Reserve Force Medal
Reserve Force Medal
The Reserve Force Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by non-commissioned members of the Reserve Forces. It is part of the suite of defence force service awards introduced in 1982, which also included the Defence Force Service Medal and the Reserve Force Decoration...
). Even now, however, defence force 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 (i.e. the state-based and constituted civil emergency response 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 Queen. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia can now determine, by written instrument, that additional organisations are eligible.
National Police Service Medal
On Wednesday 2 March 2011 the Australian Government announced that Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second Queen of Australia 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 MedalNational Police Service Medal
The National Police Service Medal is a special service award within the Australian honours system to provide "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".The NPSM...
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
The National Medal recognises those who put themselves at risk in the service of the community, or in the course of enforcing the law to protect the persons or property. The regulations governing the award use the term "primary function" to describe this concept. Members of eligible organisations who do not perform the "primary function" are therefore not eligible, for example, administrative staff of fire services, or non-custodial staff of correctional services.To qualify a person must have served an eligible organisation for at least 15 years in the primary function, and the chief officer of the organisation must assess their service as "diligent". From 1999 service did not have to be continuous, and the only restriction on counting service with several eligible organisations is that simultaneous service with more than one organisation is only counted once (i.e. no double-counting). Service must include at least one day on or after 14 February 1975 (the day the award was established) and at least one day on or after the "approval date" for at least one organisation served. For the original organisations (police, fire, ambulance, defence) the "approval date" is 14 February 1975. Other organisations have approval dates as determined by the Governor-General, which ensures that a person whose service entirely pre-dates approval as an eligible organisation can't claim the award.
Making Awards
The Chief Officer of each eligible organisation is authorised to recommend to the Governor-General that an award be made to a member of his or her 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 SystemAustralian Honours System-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...
- Australian Honours Order of PrecedenceAustralian Honours Order of Precedence- Order of wear :Order of precedence for the wearing of decorations and awards within the Australian Honours System.Articles marked with * are awards of the British Empire/United Kingdom and are now considered foreign....
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, www.defence.gov.au