Award Category:
Public Service Medal
Public Service Medal front
Public Service Medal back
Significance
The Public Service Medal recognises outstanding service by employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees. ‘Outstanding service’ could be shown through:
- service excellence to the public, or to external or internal clients;
- innovation in programme, project or policy development;
- leadership, including as a member of a team; or
- the achievement of more efficient processes, improved productivity or better service delivery.
History
There is a long tradition in Commonwealth nations of recognising employees for outstanding public service.
Members of the Australian Public Service used to be rewarded through the Imperial Honours system with awards similar to their British counterparts. This ceased in 1975 when the Order of Australia was established.
The Australian Public Service Medal was established on 18 October 1989 by Letters Patent.
Recipients
Bob Stirling PSM was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2003
How it is awarded
The Public Service Medal acknowledges outstanding service by employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees.
The various state and territory Public Service Medal Committees consider nominations for eligible employees.
Committees meet twice a year to consider nominations for the Australia Day and The Queen’s Birthday honours lists. Closing dates for nominations vary from state to state and should be checked with individual Committee Secretariats.
In order to be considered by the federal Committee, federal government nominations need to be submitted by 1 November (for possible inclusion in The Queen’s Birthday Honours list) and by 1 April (for possible inclusion in the Australia Day Honours list).
After considering the nominations, the committee recommends a list of proposed recipients to the Minister or Premier, who then makes a recommendation to the Governor-General who has the authority to approve awards.
There is an annual quota for each government public service, with a total of 100 medals awarded every year.
A person may only receive the Public Service Medal once and is entitled to the post-nominal PSM.
The award is announced on Australia Day (26 January) and the Queen’s Birthday (June) each year.
Nomination forms
Download a copy of the Public Service Medal nomination form:
More information
For more information on making a nomination for the Public Service Medal contact:
Australian Government
The Secretary
PSM Committee Secretariat
Honours, Symbols and Legal Policy Branch
Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia
Phone: (02) 6271 5601
Email: psm@pmc.gov.au
New South Wales
Mr Michael Stapleton
Communications & Engagement
NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
GPO Box 5341
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Phone: (02) 9513 2031
Email: awards@dpc.nsw.gov.au
South Australia
Ms Emma Chidlow
Australia Day Council of South Australia
30 Wakefield St, Adelaide SA 5000
GPO Box 2343, Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: 08 8463 5439
Email: Emma.Chidlow@sa.gov.au
Victoria
Senior Manager, Australia Day and Awards
Strategic Communication, Engagement and Protocol Branch
Department of Premier and Cabinet
1 Treasury Place
MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Phone: 1300 366 356
Email: psm@dpc.vic.gov.au
Tasmania
Ms Fiona Birkett
State Protocol Officer
GPO Box 123
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: (03) 6270 5671
Email: protocol@dpac.tas.gov.au
Queensland
General Manager
Government Services
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
PO Box 15185
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Phone: (07) 3003 9279 or (07) 3003 9246
Email: honours@premiers.qld.gov.au
Western Australia
PSM Committee Secretarit
Public Sector Commission
Locked Bag 3002
WEST PERTH WA 6872
Email: psm@psc.wa.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory
Protocol, Honours and Ceremonial Events Officer
Protocol, Honours and Ceremonial Events
Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6205 3031
Email: govtsupport@act.gov.au
Northern Territory
Ms Jenny Stephensen
Director
Strategic Workplace Planning and Development
Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment
GPO Box 4371
DARWIN NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8999 4137
Email: swpd.ocpe@nt.gov.au
Medal Design
The Public Service Medal is a circular nickel-silver medal ensigned with a Federation Star.
The front of the medal shows an inner circle with four planetary gears spaced equally around a sun gear. It is surrounded by the words 'Public Service'. An outer circle shows 36 human figures symbolising a range of occupations and activities.
The back of the medal displays a wreath of mimosa surrounding the inscription 'For Outstanding Service'.
The Public Service Medal was designed by Mr Stuart Devlin AO CMG.
Medal ribbon
The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features the national colours of green and gold in a vertical striped pattern.