The 2011 triple zero commemorative piece was issued to celebrate fifty years since the introduction of the triple zero emergency number. The reverse design is by Wojciech Pietranik and features the triple zero logo along with the three major emergency services (Ambulance, Police, and Fire). The reverse legend states "50 YEARS OF THE TRIPLE ZERO (000) EMERGENCY CALL SERVICE" along with the denomination "50". The obverse features the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II with the legend "ELIZABETH II - AUSTRALIA 2008".
Before 1961 contacting the emergency services required the caller to know the number of their local services. In 1961 the PMG (Post Master General) introduced the triple zero service which provided a singular contact point for access to emergency services across Australia.