The ACT Community Protection Medal
The Medal
The Australian Capital Territory Community Protection Medal (the Medal) will consist of a medal kit (containing a full size Medal, miniature Medal, ribbon bar and lapel pin) and a Certificate.
A maximum of five Medals in total will be awarded by the Government each year on Canberra Day.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the Medal extends to any person who is either an employee or volunteer of the ACT Ambulance Service, ACT Fire Brigade, ACT Bushfire Service, ACT Emergency Service or ACT Emergency Services Bureau. Eligibility also extends to any sworn or unsworn member of the Australian Federal Police.
A recipient must have been an employee or active volunteer of an above organisation at the time they are formally nominated in writing. Nominations are to be submitted to the respective senior officer of that organisation who is a member of the Recommending Committee.
Awarding the Medal
The Medal may be awarded to an eligible person who has given sustained distinguished or outstanding service to the ACT Community through their involvement with their agency.
For AFP sworn and unsworn members, their sustained distinguished or outstanding service must be overwhelmingly related to their duties undertaking or in direct support of ACT Policing.
The Medal may be awarded regardless of whether the person is eligible for any other award because of the service.
A person who is already a holder of the Medal is not eligible for another award of the Medal. This also applies to a holder of a Medal who may be an employee or volunteer in two or more agencies.
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services will make the final decision endorsing Medal recipients. The Minister’s decision is final.
Nominations and recommendations
An eligible person may be nominated by anyone, however the nomination must be in writing and accompanied by a written case supporting the nomination.
All nominations must be forwarded to a member of the Recommending Committee (the Committee), which consists of the Chief Police Officer, Fire Commissioner, Director Bushfire and Emergency Services, Director Ambulance Service, the Executive Director Emergency Services Bureau, and a community representative who will be nominated by the Minister prior to the annual meeting of the Committee.
The Committee is to meet annually and make written recommendations to the Minister no later than the end of the first week of February each year.
In determining or assessing written nominations, the Committee is to take into account the following:
- The Medal is to recognise sustained diligent or outstanding service;
- Merit is the main criterion on which nominations are assessed;
- "Sustained distinguished or outstanding service" is regarded as service well above and beyond the normal requirements of duties over a lengthy period, and may include a special achievement(s) or success in the performance of duty in difficult or unusual circumstances;
- The Medal is not a long service medal;
- The Medal is not about rank or title;
- The Medal is not a bravery award, however specific brave acts may be considered if they form part of the overall sustained distinguished or outstanding service;
- The recipient must have been an employee or active volunteer sometime during the previous 12 months, and have been so at the time of being nominated;
- There is no quota on the number of Medals to be issued to each service, however an overall maximum of five (5) will be issued in total in any year.
Nominations will then be forwarded to the Minister for endorsement.
Nominations which are unsuccessful will lapse each year, the person must be nominated again during the following year to be reconsidered by the Committee.
In cases where the Committee is unable to agree on nominations, it will advise the Minister of that disagreement and the nominees. The Minister will make the final determination.
Posthumous awarding
A Medal will not be awarded posthumously except when the recipient dies after the Minister has endorsed the nomination by the Recommending Committee. If a nominee dies before this stage then the person will no longer be considered for the award.
Wearing the Medal
The Medal is not an honour which appears on the Australian Order of Precedence of Honours and Awards, notified by His Excellency the Governor General. Therefore the Medal is to be worn above the right breast pocket in the same manner as an Australian Honour or Award is worn above the left breast pocket. This principle is also to be followed in circumstances where the miniature, ribbon bar or lapel pin are worn.
Revocation, reinstatement or loss of the Medal
The Recommending Committee may seek the revocation or reinstatement of a Medal to a recipient, by making such a recommendation to the Minister.
The reasons for revoking the award will relate to the Committee forming the belief that a recipient has engaged in unethical behaviour or improper conduct which has or may bring discredit to the award.
In relation to this part the Recommending Committee may meet as required to make its deliberations, which may include requesting a written submission from a recipient addressing the Committee’s concerns. The Committee’s findings (including a recipients case if supplied) will then be forwarded to the Minister for consideration.
Medal recipients who are notified of the revocation of their Medal are to return it (including all components) as soon as practicable.
Recipients whose Medal has been lost, damaged or stolen may make written application to the Minister for a replacement medal. Unless otherwise determined by the Minister, the cost of replacement is to be met by the recipient.