Order of Australia
The Australian system of honours and awards was established in 1975. Prior to 1975 Australians were recognised under the British honours system, also known as Imperial awards.
The Order of Australia is the highest civilian award. There are 4 levels in the Order of Australia*:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
The order of precedence for wearing decorations and medals within the Australian Honours System is shown below, in comparison with the British awards (which are now considered foreign awards in Australia). (Some minor awards have been omitted for brevity):
- Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)
- George Cross (GC)
- Cross of Valour (CV)
- Knight/Lady of the Garter (KG/LG)
- Knight/Lady of the Thistle (KT/LT)
- Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)
- Order of Merit (OM)
- Knight/Dame of the Order of Australia (AK/AD)
- Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
- Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
- Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
- Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
- Companion of Honour (CH)
- Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
- Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG/DCMG)
- Knight/Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO/DCVO)
- Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
- Knight Bachelor
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
- Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
- ommander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Star of Gallantry (SG)
- Star of Courage (SC)
- Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
- Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
- Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
- Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)
- Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
- Nursing Service Cross (NSC)
- Royal Red Cross (1st Class - Member) (RRC)
- Military Cross (MC)
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
- Air Force Cross (AFC)
- Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
- Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
- George Medal (GM)
- Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
- Military Medal (MM)
- British Empire Medal (BEM)