Administering Honours

Administering Australia’s honours

There are three organisations with primary responsibility for administering Australia’s system of honours. They are:

  • Honours Secretariat, Government House, Canberra
  • Awards and Culture Branch, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
  • Directorate of Honours and Awards, Department of Defence

Government House

The Australian system of honours was introduced in 1975. At that time the Honours Secretariat was established as part of the Governor-General’s Office at Government House in Canberra.

The Governor-General is the Chancellor of the Order of Australia and the Honours Secretariat is responsible for its administration.

A large part of the Secretariat’s role is to research nominations for the Order of Australia.

The Secretariat also:

  • provides support to the Council for the Order of Australia. The Council is an independent body that considers nominations to the Order and makes recommendations for appointments to the Governor-General.
  • supports the work of the Australian Bravery Decorations Council as well.
  • administers honours and awards for meritorious action by members of the Australian Defence Force in peacetime and war-like operations.
  • is responsible for ensuring that all other awards – including decorations in gallantry, meritorious service, conspicuous service, skill-at-arms, exceptional service in Antarctica and long service – are processed for approval in accordance with gazetted regulations.

The contact details for Government House Canberra are:

Honours Secretariat
Government House
CANBERRA, ACT 2600

Toll-free phone line: 1800 552 275

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

The Awards and Culture Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet provides policy advice on the operation of the Australian honours system.

It is also responsible for community awareness campaigns so that honours are more accessible and better known to all Australians.

The Branch can provide definitive information about Australia’s national symbols such as the Australian National Flag and the Australian National Anthem.

On an administrative level the Branch handles applications for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal, the Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Vietnam Logistics and Support Medal by members of civilian surgical and medical teams. It also provides a secretariat service to the Public Service Medal Committee.

The Branch processes requests by foreign governments to recognise the efforts of Australian citizens by granting them foreign awards. It also assists the Prime Minister in relation to the nomination of non-Australian citizens for honorary awards in the Order of Australia.

The contact details for the Awards and Culture Branch are:

Awards and Culture Branch
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia
Ph: 02 6271 5601

Email: See the Contact Us section of this website

Department of Defence

The Directorate of Honours and Awards of the Department of Defence provides policy advice on defence honours and awards. The Department is also responsible for administering defence awards.

The contact details for the Directorate of Honours and Awards at the Department of Defence are:

Toll-free medal inquiry phone line: 1800 111 321

Website: http://www.defence.gov.au/medals/

Mailing address for medal applications:

Directorate of Honours and Awards
T-1-49
Department of Defence
CANBERRA ACT 2600
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Last Updated: 3 April, 2007