The Public Service Medal recognises outstanding service by employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees. ‘Outstanding service’ can be shown through:
- service excellence to the public, or to external or internal clients
- innovation in programme, project or policy development
- leadership, including as a member of a team or
- the achievement of more efficient processes, improved productivity or better service delivery.
How it is awarded
The Public Service Medal is awarded twice a year by the Governor-General.
The various Commonwealth, state and territory Public Service Medal committees meet twice a year to consider nominations for the January and June honours lists. Closing dates for nominations vary from state to state and should be checked with individual committee secretariats.
Commonwealth government nominations need to be submitted by 1 November (for inclusion in the June honours list) and by 1 April (for inclusion in the January honours list).
After considering the nominations, committees recommend a list of proposed recipients to the Minister or Premier, who then makes a recommendation to the Governor-General who has the authority to approve awards.
There is an annual quota for each government public service, with a total of 100 medals awarded every year.
A person may only receive the Public Service Medal once and is entitled to the post-nominal PSM.
Recipients of the Public Service Medal
Nomination forms
For Federal departmental nominations, download a copy of the Public Service Medal nomination form and guidance document:
Public Service Medal nomination form and nomination guide.
More information
For State and Territory nominations, please contact your relevant office below for more information on making a nomination for the Public Service Medal and to ensure the correct nomination form is used:
Australian Government
The Secretary
PSM Committee Secretariat
Honours and Symbols
Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia
Phone: 02 6271 5601
Email: psm@pmc.gov.au
New South Wales
Community Engagement Group
Premier's Department
GPO Box 5341
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Phone: 02 9228 5068
Email: awards@dpc.nsw.gov.au
NSW Government: Public Service Medal
South Australia
Ms Suzanne Malbut
Australia Day Council of South Australia
Office 18, 240 Currie Street, Adelaide 5000
Phone: 08 8212 3999
Email: suzanne.malbut@adcsa.com.au
Victoria
Strategic Communication, Engagement and Protocol Branch
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Email: psm@dpc.vic.gov.au
Tasmania
Courtney Ingham
Manager – Ministerial and Executive Services
Department of Premier and Cabinet
GPO Box 123
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6270 5667
Email: protocol@dpac.tas.gov.au
Queensland
Events and Engagement
Governance and Engagement
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
PO Box 15185
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Phone: 07 3003 9200
Email: honours@premiers.qld.gov.au
Western Australia
PSM Committee Secretariat
Public Sector Commission
Locked Bag 3002
WEST PERTH WA 6872
Email: psm@psc.wa.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory
Protocol, Honours and Ceremonial Events Officer
Protocol, Honours and Ceremonial Events
Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6205 3031
Email: govtsupport@act.gov.au
Northern Territory
Dr Kalotina Halkitis
Senior Director
Strategic Workplace Planning and Development
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
GPO Box 4371
DARWIN NT 0801
Phone: 08 8999 4137
Email: swpd.ocpe@nt.gov.au
History
There is a long tradition in Commonwealth nations of recognising employees for outstanding public service.
Previously, members of the Australian Public Service were rewarded through the Imperial Honours system with awards similar to their British counterparts. This ceased in 1975 when the Order of Australia was established.
The Australian Public Service Medal was established on 18 October 1989 by Letters Patent.
On 23 December 2021, amendments to the Public Service Medal Regulations were approved by Queen Elizabeth II enabling the recognition of COVID-19 related service above the annual quotas.
Medal design
The Public Service Medal is a circular nickel-silver medal ensigned with a Federation Star.
The front of the medal shows an inner circle with four planetary gears spaced equally around a sun gear. It is surrounded by the words 'Public Service'. An outer circle shows 36 human figures symbolising a range of occupations and activities.
The back of the medal displays a wreath of mimosa surrounding the inscription 'For Outstanding Service'.
The Public Service Medal was designed by Mr Stuart Devlin AO CMG.
Medal ribbon
The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features the national colours of green and gold in a vertical striped pattern.