How it is awarded
The Governor-General awards the Australian Intelligence Medal on the recommendation of the Australian Intelligence Medal Committee. The Committee comprises the head of each agency that makes up the National Intelligence Community and the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The medal is awarded annually as follows:
- One medal for each 1,000, or part of 1,000, full-time equivalent members of the National Intelligence Community, plus one additional award.
Awards are announced in January and June each year.
Only one award can be made to an individual. Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal AIM.
The Australian Intelligence Medal is placed in the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards immediately after the Australian Corrections Medal.
History
The Australian Intelligence Medal was established on 24 January 2020 by Letters Patent.
On 23 December 2021, amendments to the Australian Intelligence Medal Regulations were approved by Her Majesty the Queen enabling the recognition of COVID-19 related service above the annual quotas.
Medal design
The Australian Intelligence Medal is a bi-metal construction of nickel-silver in antique finish and bronze colouring in a circular shape 38 millimetres in diameter. The obverse of the medal features a raised Federation Star. The centre of the Federation Star has a bronze-coloured raised impression of a decagon, symbolising the ten agencies of the National Intelligence Community. The Federation Star is surrounded by an indented border, representing the twenty-four hour nature of intelligence.
The central emblem is encircled by a contemporary laurel of a wattle which recalls the uniquely Australian nature of the award. The reverse features a border with the raised, polished words ‘Australian Intelligence Medal’ surrounding a space where the recipient’s name may be engraved.
Medal Ribbon
The Australian Intelligence Medal is suspended from a ribbon 32 millimetres wide. The ribbon features a central band of yellow 5 millimetres in width, flanked by white graduating to midnight blue then to black.