Post-nominals

List of the established post-nominal entitlements for Australian honours and Imperial honours.

Post-nominal entitlements

Many awards carry an entitlement for recipients to use indicative letters after their name - for example, ‘OAM’ for the Medal of the Order of Australia.  These indicative letters are known as post-nominals.

Post-nominals may be used from the date on which the award is gazetted.

If a recipient is entitled to post-nominals for more than one award, the sequence of the post-nominals is indicated by the Order of Wearing for Australian honours and awards. Please note that within the Order of Australia, the highest award is the only post-nominal used. For example, Mr John Citizen who has received the OAM, the AM and the AC, will be addressed as Mr John Citizen AC.

There are established post-nominal entitlements for Australian honours and Imperial honours listed in the table below. Please note this list is in alphabetical order (and not in the order of wearing of awards – which can be found under Wearing Awards).

Awards marked with an asterisk * have no post-nominal entitlement.

Australian honours and post-nominal entitlements

Honour

Post-nominal

80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal

*

Afghanistan Medal

*

Ambulance Service Medal

ASM

Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal

*

Australia Service Medal 1939-1945

*

Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975

*

Australian Antarctic Medal

AAM

Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal

*

Australian Defence Medal

*

Australian Corrections Medal

ACM

Australian Fire Service Medal

AFSM

Australian Intelligence Medal

AIM

Australian Police Medal

APM

Australian Service Medal

*

Australian Service Medal 1945-1975

*

Australian Sports Medal

*

Bravery Medal

BM

Centenary Medal

*

Champion Shots Medal

*

Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945

*

Commendation for Brave Conduct

*

Commendation for Distinguished Service

*

Commendation for Gallantry

*

Companion of the Order of Australia

AC

Conspicuous Service Cross

CSC

Conspicuous Service Medal

CSM

Cross of Valour

CV

Dame of the Order of Australia (no longer offered)

AD

Defence Force Service Medal

*

Defence Long Service Medal

*

Distinguished Service Cross

DSC

Distinguished Service Medal

DSM

Emergency Services Medal

ESM

Group Bravery Citation

*

Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal

*

International Force East Timor Medal

*

Iraq Medal

*

Knight of the Order of Australia (no longer offered)

AK

Medal for Gallantry

MG

Medal of the Order of Australia

OAM

Member of the Order of Australia

AM

Meritorious Unit Citation

*

National Emergency Medal

*
National Medal *

National Police Service Medal

*

Nursing Service Cross

NSC

Officer of the Order of Australia

AO

Police Overseas Service Medal

*

Public Service Medal

PSM

Reserve Force Decoration

RFD

Reserve Force Medal

*

Rhodesia Medal

*

Star of Courage

SC

Star of Gallantry

SG

Unit Citation for Gallantry

*

Victoria Cross for Australia

VC

Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal

*

Vietnam Medal

*

Imperial honours and post-nominal entitlements

Honour

Post-nominal

Distinguished Conduct Medal

DCM

Distinguished Flying Cross

DFC

Distinguished Flying Medal

DFM

Distinguished Service Cross

DSC

Distinguished Service Medal

DSM

Distinguished Service Order - Companion

DSO

Empire Gallantry Medal

EGM

General Service Medal 1918-62

*

General Service Medal 1962

*

George Cross

GC

George Medal

GM

Imperial Service

*

Imperial Service Order - Companion

ISO

Italy Star

*

King Edward VII Coronation Medal

*

King George V Coronation Medal

*

King George V Silver Jubilee Medal

*

King George VI Coronation Medal

*

King's Commendation for Brave Conduct

KCBC

King's Police and Fire Services Medal

KPFSM

King's South Africa Medal

*

Knight Bachelor

*

Mercantile Marine War Medal

*

Meritorious Service Medal

MSM

Naval General Service Medal 1915-62

*

Pacific Star

*

Polar Medal

*

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

*

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal

*

Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct

*

Queen's South Africa Medal

*

Sea Gallantry Medal

SGM

Air Force Cross

AFC

Air Force Medal

AFM

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

CGM

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)

CGM(F)

Military Cross

MC

Military Medal

MM

The Order of Merit

OM

The Order of St Michael and St George - Companion

CMG

The Order of St Michael and St George - Dame Commander

DCMG

The Order of St Michael and St George - Knight/Dame Grand Cross

GCMG

The Order of St Michael and St George- Knight Commander

KCMG

Order of St John

*

The Order of the Bath - Companion

CB

The Order of the Bath - Dame Commander

DCB

The Order of the Bath - Knight Commander

KCB

The Order of the Bath - Knight/Dame Grand Cross

GCB

The Order of the British Empire - Commander

CBE

The Order of the British Empire - Dame Commander

DBE

The Order of the British Empire - Knight/Dame Grand Cross

GBE

The Order of the British Empire - Knight Commander

KBE

The Order of the British Empire - Medal / British Empire Medal

BEM

The Order of the British Empire - Member

MBE

The Order of the British Empire - Officer

OBE

The Order of the Companion of Honour

CH

The Order of the Garter - Knight

KG

The Order of the Garter - Lady

LG

The Order of the Thistle - Knight

KT

The Order of the Thistle - Lady

LT

Queen's Fire Service Medal

QFSM

Queen's Gallantry Medal

QGM

Queen's Police Medal

QPM

Royal Red Cross

RRC

Royal Red Cross (2nd Class)

ARRC

The Royal Victorian Order - Commander

CVO

The Royal Victorian Order - Dame Commander

DCVO

The Royal Victorian Order - Knight/Dame Grand Cross

GCVO

The Royal Victorian Order - Knight Commander

KCVO

The Royal Victorian Order - Lieutenant

LVO

The Royal Victorian Order - Member

MVO

The Royal Victorian Order - Royal Victorian Medal

RVM

Victoria Cross

VC

Victory Medal

*

War Medal 1939-45

*