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Australian Honours and Awards

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) mission is to lead and enable a united high performance (HP) system that supports Australian athletes/teams to achieve podium success.

Australian Honours and Awards recognise the outstanding service and contributions of Australians.

Recipients come from right across the country and from all walks of life. While some well-known people receive awards, many more are known only to those they help and serve day-in-day-out. All recipients are worthy of recognition and celebration.

Honours lists are announced each year on 26 January and on the June long weekend.

Order of Australia

The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.

There are four levels of award.

  • Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
  • Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
  • Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
  • Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - awarded for service worthy of particular recognition.

How to nominate?

There is room in sport for every Australian regardless of race, gender, age, cultural background or physical ability. Anyone can nominate, opens in a new tab a member of the sporting community for an award in the Order of Australia.

The easiest way to find someone that has been recognised with an award is to search the Prime Minister and Cabinet database, opens in a new tab.

Australian Sports Medal

The Australian Sports Medal recognises the efforts of Australians who have made our country a nation of sporting excellence.

This award was presented to competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintain sporting facilities and services during the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic games.

On 4 December 2020, amendments were made to allow the Australian Sports Medal to be awarded to commemorate Australian sporting participation in multi-sports events, including:

  • the Invictus Games, from 2018:
  • the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Global Games, from 2019;
  • the Special Olympics World Summer Games, from 2019;
  • the Special Olympics World Winter Games, from 2021;
  • the Olympic Games (Summer), from 2020;
  • the Olympic Games (Winter), from 2022;
  • the Paralympic Games (Summer) from 2020;
  • the Paralympic Games (Winter) from 2022; and
  • the Commonwealth Games, from 2022.

Further details regarding the eligibility criteria, administration and application process will be released soon. Find out more information on the Prime Minister and Cabinet website, opens in a new tab.

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