Australian Fire Service Medal

Award

Australian Fire Service Medal
Obverse of medal and ribbon
Type	Medal
Awarded for	distinguished service
Presented by	Australia
Eligibility	members of an Australian Fire Service
Post-nominals	AFSM
Status	Currently awarded
Established	12 April 1988
First awarded	1989 Australia Day Honours
Last awarded	2024 King's Birthday Honours
Total	1,812
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Australian Police Medal (APM)
Next (lower)	Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)

The Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service. The AFSM was introduced in 1988, and replaced the Imperial awards of the Queen's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry and the Queen's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service. Recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AFSM".

Awards are made by the Governor-General, on the nomination of the responsible minister in each state or territory, and at the federal level. The total number of awards each year must not exceed the following quota:

one award for each 1,000, or part of 1,000, full-time permanent members of the combined fire services of each state;
one award for each 5,000, or part of 5,000, part-time, volunteer or auxiliary members of the combined fire services of each state; and one additional award in each state;
one award of the Medal shall be made in each calendar year in respect of the combined fire services in each of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory of Australia;
one award of the Medal shall be made in each calendar year in respect of a Commonwealth fire service; and
an occasional award (not exceeding one per calendar year) may be made in respect of the fire service of an External Territory as determined by the responsible Minister.

Description

The AFSM is a circular copper-nickel medal. It is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse displays an image of The Queen superimposed over a seven-pointed star of flames.
The reverse is inscribed with the words ‘Australian Fire Service Medal’, and ‘For Distinguished Service’ on a background of flames.
The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon has a central vertical band of gold, which is superimposed with a red pattern symbolising flames. The two outer vertical bands are green.

References

Australian Fire Service Medal, It's an Honour, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government

Governor-General Annual Report 2023-24 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.

Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia

(order of wearing)

National orders

/ Order of Australia

Royal orders

Gallantry

Bravery

Distinguished service

Conspicuous service

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Nursing service

Nursing Service Cross (NSC)

Meritorious service

Campaign medals
(service periods)

1939–1945	Australia Service Medal 1939–1945
1945–1975	Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 Australian General Service Medal for Korea (1953–1956) Vietnam Medal (1964–1973) Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal (1968–1973) Australian Service Medal 1945–1975
1975–2012	Australian Active Service Medal (1975–present) Rhodesia Medal (1979–1980) International Force East Timor Medal (1999–2000) Afghanistan Medal (2001–2014) Iraq Medal (2003–2013) Australian Service Medal (1975–present)
2012–present	Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection (2012–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – GMEO (2014–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations (2019–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery (2020–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa (2023–present) Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian (2012–present)