Public Service Medal (Australia)

Public Service Medal
Medal and ribbon
Type	Medal
Awarded for	Outstanding Service
Presented by	Australia
Eligibility	Employees of the Australian Government and state, territory and local government employees[1]
Post-nominals	PSM
Status	Currently awarded
Established	18 October 1989
First awarded	1990 Australia Day Honours
Last awarded	2024 King's Birthday Honours
Total	3,116[2]
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
Next (lower)	Australian Police Medal (APM)

The Public Service Medal (PSM) is a civil decoration awarded to Australian public servants (at all levels) for outstanding service. The PSM was introduced in 1989 and replaced the Imperial Service Order discontinued in Australia in 1975, supplementing the Order of Australia introduced that same year. Recipients of the Public Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "PSM".

The medal is awarded twice each year by the Governor-General of Australia, on the nomination of the responsible Minister in each state or territory, and at the federal level.^[3] The total number of awards made each year must not exceed 100, further broken down into a quota for each government public service.

Description

• The Public Service Medal is a circular nickel-silver medal ensigned with a Federation Star. The obverse shows an inner circle with four planetary gears spaced equally around a sun gear. It is surrounded by the words 'Public Service'. An outer circle shows 36 human figures symbolising a range of occupations and activities.
• The reverse displays a wreath of mimosa surrounding the inscription 'For Outstanding Service'.
• The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon features the national colours of green and gold in a vertical striped pattern.

See also

• Australian Honours Order of Precedence

References

1. "It's an Honour - Honours - Awards - A-Z of Awards - Public Service Medal". Itsanhonour.gov.au. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
2. Governor-General Annual Report 2023-24 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
3. "Australia Day honours awarded to public servants for 'outstanding' work". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.