Recipients have the post-nominals of NSC. Those awarded a bar or bars may also use ‘and Bar’ or ‘and Bars’ after their name.
The Conspicuous Service Decorations were instituted for the purpose of recognising service in non-warlike operations. They are awarded primarily to members of the Australian Defence Force.
There are two levels of the decorations and an additional decoration called the Nursing Service Cross.
The Nursing Service Cross recognises outstanding performance of nursing duties in both operational and non-operational situations.
How it is awarded
The Governor-General makes an award of a Conspicuous Service Decoration on the recommendation of the Minister for Defence.
The Conspicuous Service Decorations are announced in January and June each year. The Governor-General may also make immediate awards for Conspicuous Service Decorations on the recommendation of the minister and these are announced separately as they occur.
The Nursing Service Cross may be awarded posthumously.
History
The Conspicuous Service Cross and the Conspicuous Service Medal are specifically Australian military awards.
They are awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force and certain other people such as members of philanthropic organisations.
The Nursing Service Cross was introduced in Australia in 1989 to recognise outstanding performance of nursing duties. The cross is primarily awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force.
Nurses have always played a vital role in the Australian Defence Forces.
Queen Victoria presented Florence Nightingale with a specially designed jewel in 1855 for her services in the Crimean War.
Prior to 1989 there was no specific award for Australian nurses. They could be awarded the Imperial Royal Red Cross.
About 250 Australian nurses received one of the two classes of the cross between the Boer War and the Vietnam War
The Conspicuous Service Decorations were all instituted on 18 October 1989 by Letters Patent.
Medal design
The Nursing Service Cross is a four-stepped sterling silver cross ensigned with the Crown of St Edward.
The obverse bears a transparent red enamel cross insert overlaid on a flecked pattern radiating from the centre of the medal.
The medal has a sterling silver suspender bar.
Medal ribbon
The medal ribbon has a central red vertical band flanked by two white vertical banks and a further two vertical gold bands.