By Jamie Furness
Local frontline emergency responders, volunteers and community support workers involved in the February-March 2022 flood events in South East Queensland may now be eligible for the National Emergency Medal.
The medal will recognise the extraordinary efforts and sacrifice of those who provided sustained or significant service between 23 February and 3 March 2022 across 21 local government areas in New South Wales and Queensland affected by devastating floods.
The National Emergency Medal. Source: The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Millions of Australians were impacted – 21 lives were lost, over 22,000 requests for assistance were made and over 2,000 rescues took place.
Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich were among areas that were severely impacted, and many frontline responders, volunteers and community support workers stepped up to support flood-affected residents.
Across the region, flooding also caused significant damage to critical infrastructure and essential services (including rail, roads, power and telecommunications), commercial and residential property, the agricultural sector and numerous critical supply chains.
Since it was established in 2011, the National Emergency Medal has been awarded to more than 78,000 people for their efforts in response to nationally-significant events.
This has included the 2019-20 bushfires, 2019 North Queensland floods, Tropical Cyclone Debbie, 2010-11 Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi, and the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
Information on eligibility and how to submit an application for an individual, or on behalf of a group, agency or organisation is available via gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/national-emergency-medal
