Nominating or applying for awards

Australian awards and honours are made available either by nomination or by application.

Each award or medal has eligibility requirements. The agencies with responsibility for administering awards in the Australian honours system are:

Information on the application or nomination process (including forms where applicable) and eligibility requirements for each award can be found by clicking on the relevant agency link.

Awards administered by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House

The Governor-General is the Chancellor of the Order of Australia and the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat is responsible for its administration. A large part of the Secretariat’s role is to research nominations for the Order of Australia, but the Secretariat also:

  • provides support to the Council for the Order of Australia
  • provides support to the Australian Bravery Decorations Council
  • administers honours and awards for meritorious action by members of the Australian Defence Force in peacetime and war-like operations
  • ensures all other awards are processed for approval in accordance with regulations. This includes decorations in gallantry, meritorious service, conspicuous service, skill-at-arms, exceptional service in Antarctica and long service.

The Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat is located at Government House in Canberra.

The awards administered by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat are based either on nominations from the community, or via specific organisations.

Public nominations

The Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery Decorations are honours that are based on nominations from the public either by an individual or community group.

Organisation nominations

Honours and awards that are based on nominations from an eligible organisation are:

For further information about these awards contact the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat or visit the Governor-General's website.

Awards administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

The Honours and Symbols section provides policy advice on the operation of the Australian honours system. On occasion it undertakes promotional activities in relation to the Australian honours system.

In addition to advising Portfolio Ministers on the operation of the Australian honours system, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet administers the Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal.

The section also:

  • provides secretariat support to the Federal Public Service Medal Committee,
  • provides advice to the Prime Minister in considering non-Australian citizens who are not permanent residents for honorary awards in the Order of Australia, and
  • provides advice on the acceptance and wearing of civilian foreign awards by Australian citizens.

Awards administered by the Department of Defence

The Directorate of Honours and Awards at the Department of Defence is responsible for the administration of defence-related awards.

Nomination-based awards

Gallantry Decorations

Distinguished Service Decorations

Conspicuous Service Decorations

Other defence medals

Application based awards

Australian service and campaign medals are awarded to defence force and police personnel by their respective organisations for operational service. Application processes may be instituted for retrospective award of medals.

Long service awards for defence, police, other uniformed personnel and voluntary organisations involved in hazardous occupations, are awarded after a qualifying period of service. Application processes are handled internally by the relevant organisation.

Awards that are made to defence personnel on recommendation following a competition

Other Defence awards

Guidance on approval to accept and wear foreign awards offered to Australian Defence Force members can be sought by contacting the Directorate of Honours and Awards, Department of Defence.

Honours and awards that were based on applications by the recipient or a recommendation on their behalf but are no longer available are:

For further information on defence-related awards visit the Directorate of Honours and Awards website.