The Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian ambulance service. The ASM was introduced in 1999.
Awards are made by the Governor-General, on the nomination of the responsible minister in each state and territory. The total number of awards made each year must not exceed the following quota: one award for each 1,000, or part of 1,000, full-time permanent members of a state's ambulance service one award for each 5,000, or part of 5,000, part-time, volunteer or auxiliary members in a state one award for ambulance members in each of the ACT, NT and the combined External Territories.
Recipients of the Ambulance Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "ASM".
Description The Ambulance Service Medal is circular and of silver and bronze tones. The front of the medal displays the Federation Star superimposed on a modified Maltese cross, which is representative of ambulance services. This rests on a bed of Australian wattle. The Federation Star is surrounded by twenty-four balls signifying the twenty-four hours per day the Ambulance Service is available to the community. The back of the medal bears the inscription ‘For Distinguished Service’. The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features a chevron or V-shaped pattern. The angles are derived from the open end of the arm of the cross. The chevrons are in alternate red, white, red, silver-grey.
See also Australian Honours Order of Precedence
References It's an Honour Australian Government website