Post-nominals

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.

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 letters 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.

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 Fire Service Medal AFSM
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 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 AK
Medal for Gallantry MG
Medal of the Order of Australia OAM
Member of the Order of Australia AM
Meritorious Unit Citation *
National 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 *

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Last Updated: 6 September, 2006