Australian honours and awards system facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Australian honours and awards system is a way for Australia to say "thank you" and "well done!" to people who have done amazing things for the country or for others. It includes special orders, decorations, and medals. These awards have been given out since 1975.

Before 1975, Australia mainly used the British honours system. This changed over time, and by 1994, Australia had its own system fully in place. However, the King of Australia can still give some British honours to Australians if he chooses to.

The Australian system includes "honours," which are like being invited into a special club (the Order of Australia), and "awards," which are medals. Awards can be for bravery, like the Cross of Valour, or for great service, like the Public Service Medal. There are also medals for serving in the military, for long service, and for special events.

The Order of Australia and the Australian Operational Service Medal are special because they have different ribbons for military and civilian people. Most awards are announced on Australia Day (January 26) and the King's Birthday holiday (June). Bravery awards and the Australian Antarctic Medal are announced at different times.

History of Australian Honours

Australia used to use the British honours system. But in 1975, Australia started its own system. This meant fewer Australians were recommended for British awards. By 1983, the Australian government stopped recommending people for British awards. The last Australian states to recommend British awards were Queensland and Tasmania in 1989.

In 1992, it was decided that Australia would only give out its own honours. This means that any British awards given to Australians after October 5, 1992, are now seen as "foreign awards."

The Australian system is different from the British one because it allows awards to be given many years after an event. For example, some awards for actions in World War II or the Vietnam War have been given out much later. This is similar to how the United States does it.

The Australian honours system has sometimes faced criticism. Some people have said that the awards often go to people who already have a lot of status or power, rather than those who do selfless acts. For example, in 2021, there was a discussion when former tennis player Margaret Court received a high award, and some people returned their own awards in protest due to her controversial views.

How to Get an Award

There are two main ways people can receive an Australian honour or award:

Nomination: Most awards, like the Order of Australia and bravery awards, come from nominations. Anyone can nominate someone from the public or a community group. Government departments also nominate people for service awards. People from other countries can also receive honorary awards if they have done something amazing for Australia or for humanity.
Application: Some awards are given based on an application from the person or a recommendation made for them. This often happens for service awards for people in the defence force or police, or for special civilian services. Unlike some older bravery awards, people can even nominate themselves for an Australian Bravery Award.

Types of Honours and Awards

The Australian honours system has two main types:

Honours: This is when someone is appointed to an "order of chivalry." The Order of Australia is the only one currently given in Australia.
Awards: These are decorations or medals given to a person or group. Decorations are usually crosses or stars given for bravery, courage, or outstanding service. Medals are all other types of awards.

There are also different categories of awards:

Individual Honours and Awards

These are awards given to single people. They include:

Awards from the Australian honours system.
Awards given personally by the King.
Awards from the Order of St John.
British awards given before October 6, 1992.
Foreign awards that the Governor-General has approved to be accepted and worn.

British awards given after October 5, 1992, are considered foreign awards.

Military Honours

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has its own system to recognise great service by military units (not individuals) in combat. These are called battle honours, theatre honours, honour titles, and honour distinctions.

Theatre Honour: This is for units that served in a large area where a military campaign took place, like Gallipoli 1915 or Vietnam 1965–1972.
Battle Honour: This is for units that showed outstanding achievement in a specific battle or fight, like the Landing at Anzac Cove or the Kokoda Track.
Honour Title: This is for non-combat units that still showed great achievement in a battle, like the 102nd Field Battery during the Battle of Coral–Balmoral.
Honour Distinction: This is for units that performed well in operations that weren't full battles, like peacekeeping missions. An example is the 17th Construction Squadron in Namibia in 1989 and 1990.

Many units today can claim honours from older units that they are historically connected to.

Australian Honours and Awards

Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is Australia's main honour. Its symbols were designed in 1976 and use Australia's national colours, gold and royal blue. The design includes a wattle blossom and a crown, showing its link to the Australian Crown. Most of the pieces are made by the Royal Australian Mint.

The Order has two divisions: General (for civilians) and Military. The awards look the same, but the Military Division ribbon has a narrow gold band on each edge.

When it started, there were three levels: Member, Officer, and Companion. Later, the Knight and Dame levels were added, then removed, and then briefly brought back before being removed again in 2015. Now, there are four levels in both divisions. People cannot receive the award after they have died, but if they are nominated and pass away before the announcement, the award can be backdated.

The Council for the Order of Australia decides who should receive an award and at what level. This process can take a long time, sometimes up to 18 months.

General Division ribbon
Military Division ribbon

Classes

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)

This is for very high achievement and great service to Australia or humanity. No more than 35 Companions are appointed each year (not including honorary awards).

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

This is for distinguished service of a high level to Australia or humanity. No more than 140 Officers are appointed each year (not including honorary awards).

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

This is for service in a specific area or to a particular group. No more than 340 Members are appointed each year (not including honorary awards).

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

This medal is given for service that deserves special recognition. There is no limit to how many Medals of the Order can be awarded.

Recipients

	Order	Foundation	Motto	Chancellor
Order of Australia insignia Order of Australia ribbon	Order of Australia	1975 – Elizabeth II	None	His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley
Order of Australia insignia Order of Australia ribbon	Order of Australia	Knights/Dames (AK/AD): Sir John Kerr (1976), Sir Robert Menzies (1976), Sir Colin Syme (1977), Sir Zelman Cowen (1977), Sir Macfarlane Burnet (1978), Dame Alexandra Hasluck (1978), Dame Enid Lyons (1980), Charles, Prince of Wales (as he then was) (1981), Sir Roden Cutler (1981), Sir Garfield Barwick (1981), Sir Charles Court (1982), Sir Ninian Stephen (1982), Sir Roy Wright (1983), Sir Gordon Jackson (1983), Dame Quentin Bryce (2014), Sir Peter Cosgrove (2014), Dame Marie Bashir (2014), Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (2015), Sir Angus Houston (2015)

Gallantry Awards

These awards recognise acts of courage in combat or dangerous situations.

Victoria Cross for Australia ribbon

Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)
Star of Gallantry ribbon

Star of Gallantry (SG)
Medal for Gallantry ribbon

Medal for Gallantry (MG)
Commendation for Gallantry ribbon

Commendation for Gallantry

Bravery Awards

These awards recognise acts of bravery by civilians.

Cross of Valour insignia

Cross of Valour (CV)
Star of Courage ribbon

Star of Courage (SC)
Bravery Medal ribbon

Bravery Medal (BM)
Commendation for Brave Conduct ribbon

Commendation for Brave Conduct
Group Bravery Citation

Distinguished Service Awards

These awards recognise outstanding service in military operations.

Distinguished Service Cross ribbon

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Distinguished Service Medal ribbon

Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
Commendation for Distinguished Service ribbon

Commendation for Distinguished Service

Conspicuous Service Awards

These awards recognise highly unusual or outstanding service, often in non-combat roles.

Conspicuous Service Cross ribbon

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
Conspicuous Service Medal ribbon

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Nursing Service Award

Nursing Service Cross ribbon

Nursing Service Cross (NSC)

Meritorious Service Awards

These awards recognise excellent service in public roles.

Public Service Medal ribbon

Public Service Medal (PSM)
Australian Police Medal ribbon

Australian Police Medal (APM)
Australian Fire Service Medal ribbon

Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
Ambulance Service Medal ribbon

Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)
Emergency Services Medal ribbon

Emergency Services Medal (ESM)
Australian Corrections Medal ribbon

Australian Corrections Medal (ACM)
Australian Intelligence Medal ribbon

Australian Intelligence Medal (AIM)
Australian Antarctic Medal ribbon

Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM)

Campaign Medals

These medals are given for serving in specific military campaigns or operations.

Australia Service Medal 1939–45 ribbon

Australia Service Medal 1939–45
Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 ribbon

Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975
Australian Service Medal 1945–1975 ribbon

Australian Service Medal 1945–1975
Australian General Service Medal for Korea ribbon

Australian General Service Medal for Korea
Vietnam Medal ribbon

Vietnam Medal
Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal ribbon

Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal
Australian Active Service Medal ribbon

Australian Active Service Medal
Australian Service Medal ribbon

Australian Service Medal
Rhodesia Medal ribbon

Rhodesia Medal
International Force East Timor Medal ribbon

International Force East Timor Medal (INTERFET)
Afghanistan Medal ribbon

Afghanistan Medal
Iraq Medal ribbon

Iraq Medal
Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection ribbon

Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection
Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian ribbon

Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian
Australian Operational Service Medal – Greater Middle East Operation ribbon

Australian Operational Service Medal – Greater Middle East Operation
Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations ribbon

Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations
Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery ribbon

Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery
Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa ribbon

Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa

Special Service Medals

These medals are for specific types of service, often overseas or in emergencies.

Police Overseas Service Medal ribbon

Police Overseas Service Medal
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal ribbon

Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
National Emergency Medal ribbon

National Emergency Medal
Civilian Service Medal 1939–45 ribbon

Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
National Police Service Medal ribbon

National Police Service Medal
Australian Sports Medal ribbon

Australian Sports Medal (2000, 2021–present)

Commemorative Medals

These medals are given to mark special anniversaries or events.

80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal ribbon

80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal
Centenary Medal ribbon

Centenary Medal

Long Service Medals

These medals recognise long periods of service in various organisations.

Defence Force Service Medal ribbon

Defence Force Service Medal
Reserve Force Decoration ribbon

Reserve Force Decoration (RFD)
Reserve Force Medal ribbon

Reserve Force Medal
Defence Long Service Medal ribbon

Defence Long Service Medal
National Medal ribbon

National Medal
Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal ribbon

Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
Service Medal of the Order of St John ribbon

Service Medal of the Order of St John

Other Defence Medals

Australian Defence Medal ribbon

Australian Defence Medal
Champion Shots Medal ribbon

Champion Shots Medal
Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal ribbon

Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal

Royal Honours

The King can personally give some honours to Australians. These are still part of the British honours system and are managed by the UK.

	Order	Foundation	Motto	Officer(s)
Order of the Garter insignia Order of the Garter ribbon	Most Noble Order of the Garter	1348 – Edward III	Honi soit qui mal y pense "Shame upon him who thinks evil upon it"	The Baroness Manningham-Buller (Chancellor)
Order of the Garter insignia Order of the Garter ribbon	Most Noble Order of the Garter	Knights/Ladies Companion (KG/LG): Richard Casey, Baron Casey (1969), Sir Paul Hasluck (1979), Sir Ninian Stephen (1994)
Order of the Thistle insignia Order of the Thistle ribbon	Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle	1687 – James VII of Scotland (James II of England)	Nemo me impune lacessit "No one provokes me with impunity"	The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry (Chancellor)
Order of the Thistle insignia Order of the Thistle ribbon	Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle	Knights/Ladies (KT/LT): Sir Robert Menzies (1963)
Order of Merit insignia Order of Merit ribbon	Order of Merit	1902 – Edward VII	"For Merit"	The Lord Janvrin (Registrar and Secretary)
Order of Merit insignia Order of Merit ribbon	Order of Merit	Members (OM): Samuel Alexander (1930), Gilbert Murray (1941), Sir Macfarlane Burnet (1958), Sir Owen Dixon (1963), Howard Florey, Baron Florey (1965), Sir Sidney Nolan (1983), Dame Joan Sutherland (1991), Robert May, Baron May of Oxford (2002), John Howard (2012)
Royal Victorian Order insignia Royal Victorian Order ribbon	Royal Victorian Order	1896 – Victoria	"Victoria"	The Princess Royal (Grand Master) The Lord Parker of Minsmere (Chancellor)
	Royal Victorian Order	Knights/Dames Grand Cross (GCVO): Sir Paul Hasluck (1970), Sir John Kerr (1977), Sir Zelman Cowen (1980), Sir Ninian Stephen (1982), Sir William Heseltine (1990) Knights/Dames Commander (KCVO/DCVO): Sir Brudenell White (1920), Sir Bertram Mackennal (1921), Sir George Pearce (1927), Sir Leighton Bracegirdle (1947), Sir Frank Berryman (1954), Sir Eric Harrison (1954), Sir John Lavarack (1954), Sir John Northcott (1954), Sir Percy Spender (1957), Sir Robert Jackson (1962), Sir Roy Dowling (1963), Sir Eric Woodward (1963), Sir Murray Tyrrell (1968), Sir Roden Cutler (1970), Sir Alan Mansfield (1970), Sir Reg Pollard (1970), Sir Stanley Burbury (1977), Sir Colin Hannah (1977), Sir Douglas Nicholls (1977), Sir James Scholtens (1977), Sir Wallace Kyle (1977), Sir Henry Winneke (1977), Sir John Yocklunn (1977), Sir Keith Seaman (1981), Sir James Ramsay (1981), Sir David Smith (1990)
Order of St John ribbon	Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem	Royal charter 1888 – Victoria	Pro fide and Pro utilitate hominum "For the faith" and "For utility of men"	The Duke of Gloucester (Grand Prior) Mark Compton (Lord Prior)
Order of St John ribbon		Bailiffs/Dames Grand Cross (GCStJ): Villis Raymond Marshall (1999), John David Spencer (2006), Neil Conn (2012), John Pearn (2014), Mark Compton (2017)
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)	Awarded by the Queen to living holders of the Victoria Cross (2) and George Cross (1)
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)	Awarded to: Edward Kenna, Keith Payne, Michael Pratt
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)	Awarded by the Queen to living holders of the Victoria Cross (1), Victoria Cross for Australia (3), George Cross (1) and the Cross of Valour (5)
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)	Awarded to: Keith Payne, Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith, Daniel Keighran, Michael Pratt, Darrell Tree, Victor Boscoe, Allan Sparkes, Timothy Britten, Richard Joyes
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon	Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)	Awarded by the Queen to living holders of the Victoria Cross (1), Victoria Cross for Australia (3), George Cross (1) and the Cross of Valour (5)
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon	Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)	Awarded to: Keith Payne, Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith, Daniel Keighran, Michael Pratt, Darrell Tree, Victor Boscoe, Allan Sparkes, Timothy Britten, Richard Joyes
King Charles III Coronation Medal ribbon	King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)	Awarded by the King to living holders of the Victoria Cross (1), Victoria Cross for Australia (3), George Cross (1) and the Cross of Valour (5)
King Charles III Coronation Medal ribbon	King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)	Awarded to: Keith Payne, Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith, Daniel Keighran, Michael Pratt, Darrell Tree, Victor Boscoe, Allan Sparkes, Timothy Britten, Richard Joyes

Imperial Honours

Before October 6, 1992, some British honours were part of the Australian system. Awards given before that date are still recognised in Australia. After that date, they are considered foreign awards.

	Order	Foundation	Motto	Officer(s)
Baronet insignia Baronet's Badge ribbon	Baronet/Baronetess
Baronet insignia Baronet's Badge ribbon	Baronet/Baronetess	Sir Samuel Way, 1st Baronet, of Montefiore, in the Colony of South Australia (1899), extinct 1916 Sir William Clarke, 1st Baronet, of Rupertswood, in the Colony of Victoria (1882), extant, Sir Rupert Grant Alexander Clarke, 4th Baronet (current holder) Sir Daniel Cooper, 1st Baronet, of Woollahra, in the Colony of New South Wales (1863), extant, Sir William Daniel Charles Cooper, 6th Baronet (current holder) Sir Charles Nicholson, 1st Baronet, of Luddenham, in the Colony of New South Wales (1859), extinct 1986
Order of the Bath insignia Order of the Bath ribbon	Most Honourable Order of the Bath	1725 – George I	Tria iuncta in uno Three joined in one	The Prince of Wales (Great Master) Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton (King of Arms)
Order of the Bath insignia Order of the Bath ribbon	Most Honourable Order of the Bath	Knights/Dames Grand Cross (GCB): Sir George Reid (1916), Sir Isaac Isaacs (1937), Sir Arthur Longmore (1941), Sir Edmund Hudleston (1963), Sir Wallace Kyle (1966), Sir John Hackett (1967), Sir William Heseltine (1990) Knights/Dames Commander (KCB/DCB): Sir William Bridges (1915), Sir Neville Howse (1917), Sir Harry Chauvel (1918), Sir Talbot Hobbs (1918), Sir John Monash (1918), Sir John Gellibrand (1919), Sir Thomas Glasgow (1919), Sir Charles Rosenthal (1919), Sir Brudenell White (1927), Sir George Hyde (1934), Sir Julius Bruche (1935), Sir Douglas Evill (1940), Sir Arthur Coningham (1941), Sir Thomas Blamey (1942), Sir Leslie Morshead (1942), Sir Peter Drummond (1943)
Order of St Michael and St George insignia Order of St Michael and St George ribbon	Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George	1818 – George IV	Auspicium melioris ævi Token of a better age	The Duke of Kent (Grand Master) The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Chancellor)
		Knights/Dames Grand Cross (GCMG): Sir Henry Ayers (1894), Sir Frederick Darley (1901), Sir John Forrest (1901), Sir Edmund Barton (1902), Sir John Madden (1906), Sir George Reid (1911), Sir Joseph Cook (1918), Sir Harry Chauvel (1919), Sir John Monash (1919), Sir Isaac Isaacs (1932), Sir John Higgins (1934), Sir John Latham (1935), Sir William Irvine (1936), Sir Robert Garran (1937), Sir Earle Page (1938), Sir James Mitchell (1947), Sir William McKell (1951), Sir Owen Dixon (1954), Sir Thomas Playford (1957), Sir Arthur Fadden (1958), Sir Garfield Barwick (1965), Richard Casey, Baron Casey (1965), Sir Paul Hasluck (1969), Sir John McEwen (1971), Sir Henry Bolte (1978), Sir Robert Askin (1975), Sir John Kerr (1976), Sir Zelman Cowen (1977), Sir John Gorton (1977), Sir William McMahon (1977), Sir Harry Gibbs (1981), Sir Ninian Stephen (1982)
Order of the British Empire insignia Order of the British Empire ribbon	Most Excellent Order of the British Empire	1917 – George V	For God and the Empire	vacant (Grand Master) Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fulton (King of Arms)
	Most Excellent Order of the British Empire	Knights/Dames Grand Cross (GBE): Dame Flora Reid (1917), Sir Owen Cox (1920), Sir Thomas Robinson (1920), Dame Mary Hughes (1922), Dame Nellie Melba (1927), Sir Robert Gibson (1932), Sir Thomas Blamey (1943), Sir Douglas Evill (1946), Dame Pattie Menzies (1954), Dame Enid Lyons (1957)
Order of the Companions of Honour insignia Order of the Companions of Honour ribbon	Order of the Companions of Honour	1917 – George V	In action faithful and in honour clear	none
	Order of the Companions of Honour	Members/Companions (CH): Joseph Lyons (1936), Billy Hughes (1941), Sir Earle Page (1942), Richard Casey, Baron Casey (1944), Sir Robert Menzies (1951), Harold Holt (1967), Sir John McEwen (1969), Sir John Gorton (1971), Sir William McMahon (1972), Malcolm Fraser (1977), Doug Anthony (1981)
Knight Bachelor insignia Knight Bachelor ribbon	Knight Bachelor	Living Knights Bachelor: Sir Gustav Nossal (1977), Sir Roderick Carnegie (1978), Sir Andrew Grimwade (1980), Sir James Gobbo (1981), Sir James Hardy (1981), Sir William Kearney (1982), Sir Eric Neal (1982), Sir Frank Moore (1983), Sir Llewellyn Edwards (1984), Sir Graham McCamley (1986), Sir Leo Hielscher (1987), Sir Max Bingham (1988), Sir Peter Morris (1996), Sir Peter Barter (2001), Sir Rod Eddington (2005), Sir Marc Feldmann (2010), Sir Trevor Garland (2010), Sir David Higgins (2011), Sir Michael Hintze (2013), Sir Jonathan Mills (2013), Sir Chris Clarke (2015), Sir Lynton Crosby (2016), Sir Frank Lowy (2017) All other Knights Bachelor

Foreign Honours – including UN and NATO service

Australians can also receive honours from other countries, including for service with the United Nations (UN) or NATO. The Governor-General must give permission for these awards to be formally accepted and worn in Australia.

You can find lists of foreign awards commonly given to Australians on the Australian Honours Order of Wearing and Australian Campaign Medals pages.