You are here

It's an honour

Search Australian Honours

You can search the Australian Honours database on this website. There are options to perform a simple search based on name, announcement or medal/award type or an advanced search which searches all the database fields in any combination.

Australian Honours system

Like nearly every other country in the world, Australia has a system of honours and awards so its citizens can be recognised for excellence, achievement or meritorious service and contributions to our society. Honours help define, encourage and reinforce national aspirations, ideals and standards by identifying role models. We give honours to recognise, celebrate and say thank you to those who make a difference, those who achieve their best and those who serve others.

History

Australia’s distinctive honours system began in 1975 with the creation of the Order of Australia, to recognise service to the nation or humanity, as well as the Australian Bravery Decorations and the National Medal.

There are 58 awards in the Australian honours system and these are administered by various organisations. You can find out more about the history of our awards system on this site.

Australian honours are unique in that they were designed for the community to make nominations. The Australian honours system is free of patronage or political influence. Anyone can nominate an Australian citizen for an honour.

Awards

In this section you will find information about the Australian Honours system, including:

Full listings of the Awards in our honours system, and how they are:
How to nominate and/or apply for awards
How and when to wear a medal.
Post-nominal entitlements for particular awards.
A pictorial guide to awards - the Australia’s Honours poster.

Find information about:

You can also read stories about our Honoured Australians and search the Australian Honours database.

Information on Australian Flags and Symbols

You can also click on the links below for information on Australian flags and symbols:

Information is also available about Anniversary Messages from the Prime Minister, the Governor-General or The Queen.

Latest News

Graphic tile with wattle design in background, saying ‘the Order of Australia recognises exceptional Australians #ItsAnHonour

Honouring Australians

Tuesday, 04 June 2019

In the lead up to The Queen’s Birthday this Monday 10 June, when the Governor-General will announce the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, it is timely to reflect on why the Australian honours system exists.

Image of the Australian Bravery Medal - A silver star with a red and maroon ribbon

It's An Honour - Australian Bravery Decorations

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

The Australian Bravery Decorations will be announced on 28 March 2019

Order of Australia medal

Australia Day Honours 2019 – Announced

It's an Honour Office for Women

Friday, 25 January 2019

The Australia Day Honours List has been announced by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).

Resources

Nominate a Woman

27th February 2018

Around 30% of nominees to the Order of Australia are women. Together we can do better. Please take the time to nominate an inspiring woman for an Order of Australia.

Messaging: encouraging nominations for the Order of Australia.

29th November 2016

If you would like to encourage nominations to the Order of Australia awards in your network or organisation, feel free to use some of the following points to get the message out in emails.

Honours timeline

2nd August 2016

The system of Australian honours was established in 1975. It replaced the previous Imperial system of British honours that commenced in 1901 and was phased out by the late 1980s.

Designing and making awards

There are a number of steps in the process of creating a new honour or award before the medal can be designed and made. The medal and ribbons are designed as part of the process.

Official creation of awards

The Australian honours system dates from 1975 when the Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery Decorations were approved by The Queen.

Programmes & Policies

Administering Honours

Administering Awards

18th October 2018

The three organisations with primary responsibility for administering Australia’s system of honours are:

Announcing and presenting awards

Announcing Awards

23rd August 2016

Awards in the Australian system of honours are announced at various times of the year:

Foreign and Honorary Awards

18th October 2018

Nominating or Applying for Awards

Nominations for Awards

3rd November 2016

Australian awards and honours are made available either by nomination or by application. Each award or medal has particular eligibility requirements. There are a number of agencies with responsibility for administering awards in the Australian honours system, including: