[6] Those who performed service during the Black Saturday bushfires and meet certain criteria are recognised with the "VIC FIRES 09" clasp.

Requirements include:[7] Those who performed service during the Queensland Floods and Cyclone Yasi and met certain criteria are recognised by the "QLD 2010–11" clasp.

Requirements include:[8] Those who performed service during the 2019 Townsville flood and met certain criteria are recognised by the "NTH QLD 2019" clasp.

[22] Lucy Kippist, writer at The Punch stated the Prime Minister after announcing the creation of the new medal "neglected to mention that most of the volunteers who served in those regions were completely ineligible for the award", with one reader described the award as "confusing, disorganised and grossly unfair way the National Emergency Medal was put together in the first place.

[24] As a result, some agencies have produced a state honour such as the South Australia Police 'SAPOL Emergency Response Active Service Medal (COVID-19 Major Emergency Declaration)' and the Queensland Police inaugural 'Emergency Response Medal (COVID-19 clasp).