Frequently Asked Questions - Australian Bravery Decorations

Yes, anyone can nominate someone for an Australian Bravery Decoration - learn more about how to nominate someone. Nominations can be submitted for individuals, groups and unidentified responders. If you’re unable to use the webform, you can contact the Secretariat for assistance.

Yes, awards may be made posthumously and are presented to the next-of-kin.

Yes, the Secretariat accepts self-nominations.

Yes, foreign citizens and permanent residents are able to be recognised, if they carry out an act that is considered worthy of recognition by Australia, and is in Australia’s interest.

Bravery decoration nominations can be submitted year-round.

Learn more about how to nominate someone. If you’re unable to use the webform, you can contact the Secretariat for assistance.

To nominate someone, please supply as much detailed information that you have available. Some of the details that would be helpful are:

• Time of the incident.
• Conditions on the day.
• Whether emergency services attended.
• The roles played by everyone at the scene.
• Any footage, media articles, or supplementary information.

The Council usually considers brave acts to involve deliberately choosing to go from a place of safety to a place of danger, or choosing to remain in a perilous situation, to assist others.

After you nominate someone you will receive an acknowledgement that the nomination has been received.

Nominations are then researched before being provided to the Australian Bravery Decorations Council for consideration.

If the Council intends to recommend an award to the Governor-General, the individual is contacted to confirm that they would accept the award.

The Council’s recommendations are provided to the Governor-General who announces two Honours lists a year – usually in March and August.

Hundreds of nominations are processed each year. All bravery nominations received by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat are researched and material is gathered from a variety of sources prior to consideration by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council.

As we are reliant on material from other agencies, it is difficult to provide a timeframe for submission to the Council. While most nominations are generally presented for consideration within 18 months, it may take longer, particularly if the incident occurred several years ago.

At the end of the process the nominator is advised that the process has been completed and if the nomination is successful it may appear in the next honours list.

Nomination research traditionally begins with the Secretariat gathering a range of documentary evidence appropriate for each incident from state and territory government and service agencies. This may include police witness statements, video footage, reports from emergency service organisations including the police, fire brigades and ambulance associations, and coroner’s reports.

The Australian Bravery Decorations Council is an independent advisory body that considers nominations for awards and makes recommendations to the Governor-General.

The basic structure of the Council is determined by the Australian Bravery Decorations regulations. The current members of the Council can be found here.

The fourteen members of the Council meet twice per year, usually in May and November, to consider nominations.

The Council, individually and collectively, considers each nomination – including the research that has been undertaken, the original nomination information, and the comments from relevant external agencies. The Council usually considers brave acts to involve deliberately choosing to go from a place of safety to a place of danger, or choosing to remain in a perilous situation, to assist others.

Acts involving the preservation of life, (for example, first aid) while admirable, may not be considered brave.

The Council meet twice per year, usually in May and November, to consider nominations.

The Council must reach a consensus on every nomination it considers. This means the members must decide to either recommend an award, recommend no award, or defer consideration to a later date.

If a nomination is deferred the additional information the Council requires is sought, and the updated nomination is submitted at a future meeting.

There are four levels of awards for individuals, as well as an award to recognise the bravery of a group of people involved in a single incident. The Council refers to the following to help determine what level of award to recommend:

Cross of Valour - Awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

Star of Courage - Awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.

Bravery Medal - Awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

Commendation for Brave Conduct - Conferred for other acts of bravery which are considered worthy of recognition.

The group award is known as the Group Bravery Citation. This is awarded for a collective act of bravery by a group of people in extraordinary circumstances that is considered worthy of recognition.

Prior to the Council recommending an award to the Governor-General, a letter is sent asking whether the nominee would accept an award if one were to be approved. This is called the sounding process.

Once the Governor-General has considered and approved those recommended for an award, congratulatory letters are sent to successful recipients. At the end of the process the nominator is advised that the process has been completed and if the nomination is successful it may appear in the next honours list.

Recipients may then be invited to attend an investiture ceremony at the Government House in their state or territory to receive the insignia of their award.

Not every nomination will result in an award. A nomination is generally not recommended for an award if the Australian Bravery Decorations Council determine the incident does not meet the criteria.

The Council usually considers brave acts to involve deliberately choosing to go from a place of safety to a place of danger, or choosing to remain in a perilous situation, to assist others.

Acts involving the preservation of life, (for example, first aid) while admirable, may not be considered brave.

Individual feedback is not provided as deliberations by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council are confidential.

As a rule, the Australian Bravery Decorations Council does not review unsuccessful nominations however, the Council may review a decision where new evidence regarding an incident becomes available.

Information contained in your nomination form is accessible to members of the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat and the Australian Bravery Decorations Council.

The nomination statement and other information provided by you assists the Council to help decide whether a nomination should result in an award and, if so, at what level.

If you have any concerns about confidentiality or privacy of the information you wish to provide, please contact the Secretariat. Please also refer to our privacy statement which can be found here.