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 |
* |