The National Emergency Medal Committee considers advice from relevant organisations, authorities and jurisdictions involved in an emergency response before providing advice to the Minister about whether an emergency should be declared nationally-significant for the purpose of the National Emergency Medal.

The functions of the National Emergency Medal Committee include:

• Advising the Minister whether an emergency should be declared a nationally-significant emergency for the purpose of the Medal
• Advising the Minister of the sustained service criteria for declared nationally-significant emergencies
• Advising the Secretariat as to whether the service requirements for sustained service may be waived for a person who died or was evacuated during the emergency due to injury or illness.

The following events have been declared nationally-significant emergencies for the purpose of the National Emergency Medal. Click on the event title for eligibility information specific to the emergency.

• Floods February 2022
• Bushfires 2019-20
• North Queensland Floods 2019
• Tropical Cyclone Debbie 2017
• Queensland Floods 2010-11 and Cyclone Yasi
• Victorian Bushfires 2009