About Us :: Awards & Insignia

The design for the insignia was conceived by Mr Stuart Devlin AO CMG in 1976

Using the livery colours of the Australian Coat of Arms - gold and royal blue - Stuart Devlin translated an individual ball of wattle blossom into a simple convex golden disc with a rich texture of beads and radiating lines accentuating a ring of blue enamel representing the sea.

The disc is surmounted by an enamel Crown signifying the position of The Sovereign as Head of the Order. The blue and gold theme is continued in the ribbon.  In the Military Division the ribbon is distinguished by the addition of a narrow gold band on each edge.

Most of the insignia pieces are produced by the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. The actual pieces for the two Divisions of the Order are identical: it is only the ribbon which differentiates an award between the General and the Military Divisions. The style of mounting depends upon whether the award is for a male or female recipient.

Awards

Recipients may receive awards from the following...

KNIGHT / DAME AK	KNIGHT / DAME On 24 May 1976, The Queen, on the advice of the Prime Minister, added two further levels of award - a Knight and a Dame in the General Division, each having equal status and ranking above the Companion. On 3 March 1986 The Queen approved amendments deleting the Knight / Dame level without prejudice to existing appointments. The Insignia of the Knight and Dame is shown here.
COMPANION AC	Appointments as Companions are made for: General Division - 'Eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large'. Military Division - ' Eminent service in duties of great responsibility'. Excluding honorary appointments, no more than 25 Companions shall be appointed in any calendar year.
OFFICER AO	Appointments as Officers are made for: General Division - ' Distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large'. Military Division - ' Distinguished service in responsible positions'. Excluding honorary appointments, no more than 100 Officers shall be appointed in any calendar year.
MEMBER AM	Appointments as a Member are made for: General Division - ' Service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group'. Military Division - ' Exceptional service or performance of duty'. Excluding honorary appointments no more than 225 Members shall be appointed in any calendar year.
MEDAL OAM	Awards of the Medal of the Order are made for: General Division - ' Service worthy of particular recognition'. Military Division - ' Meritorious service or performance of duty'. There is no quota limit on awards of the Medal of the Order.

The Soveriegn

Her Majesty The Queen is the Head of the Order.  The Sovereign Badge is:

To foster love of and pride in Australian citizenship and to uphold the high principles and prestige of the Order of Australia
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