Order of Australia Award Nominations
Who can be nominated to receive Awards in The Order of Australia?
- Any Australian citizen can be nominated to receive an Award in recognition for outstanding achievement and service. Recipients of the Order of Australia are from many fields of endeavour and all walks of life.
- Any non-citizen can be nominated for an ‘honorary’ Award.
Who can nominate people for Awards?
- Any Australian can nominate a person for an Award.
Who selects recipients of Awards?
- The independent Council of The Order of Australia conducts the selection process and makes recommendations to the Governor-General.
What awards are there in The Order of Australian Honours System?
Any Australian may nominate any fellow Australian for an award within The Order of Australia.
The nomination and selection process is independent of Government with nomination administration being conducted by the Honours Secretariat of the Governor-General’s staff and selection being made by the independent Council of The Order of Australia.
The most current information and appropriate nomination forms are available from the Honours Secretariat website on the links below:
- Order of Australia Nomination Process and Information
- How to Nominate someone
- If you need help to complete your nomination form, call (02) 6283 3604 (business hours – AEST/AEDT) or email [email protected].
- Tips – The Honourable Shane L Stone AC PGDK KC. – Chairman of the Council for The Order of Australia February 2018 – October 2022
- Referee Guidelines
About the Award
The Order of Australia has five levels:
- Knight/Dame of the Order (AK/AD)
- Companion of the Order (AC)
- Officer of the Order (AO)
- Member of the Order (AM), and
- Medal of the Order (OAM).
How it is awarded
The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens. Except for Knights and Dames, nominations for awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia come directly from the community.
Once a nomination is submitted, the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House in Canberra conducts further research and contacts referees.
Nominations are considered by the Council of the Order of Australia which makes recommendations direct to the Governor-General. Appointments in the Order of Australia are not made posthumously. However, a nomination will be considered if the person is alive when the nomination form is received by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House in Canberra.
Awards in the Order of Australia are generally announced on Australia Day (26 January) and the King’s Birthday public holiday (June).