Australian Bravery Decorations Determination - 17 November 2023

Legislation au C2023G01261 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

 

AUSTRALIAN BRAVERY DECORATIONS DETERMINATION

I, General the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting in pursuance of regulations 3 and 13 of the Australian Bravery Decoration Regulations revoke the Australian Bravery Decorations Determination made on the sixth day of July 2012, and hereby determine as follows (see note):

 

THE CROSS OF VALOUR

 

Main Piece

 

1           The Cross of Valour is a gold cross 42 millimetres in diameter, ensigned with the Crown of St Edward in gold. The cross is surmounted by a gold suspender bar of fixed configuration, with the raised words 'FOR VALOUR' running the width of the bar on the obverse. The obverse of the cross bears a central device of the shield and crest of the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia with the arms of the cross interspersed with fluted rays. The reverse of the cross is blank but has the arms of the cross interspersed with fluted rays and the suspender bar is clear to allow for engraving of the recipient's name.

 

2          The ribbon for the Cross of Valour is 38 millimetres wide and is magenta in colour with a blood-red central band 16 millimetres wide.

 

3          At the highest point, the shield and crest, the thickness is 6 millimetres. From the shield and crest, the cross tapers equally on all four sides down to an edge 2.5 millimetres in thickness. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 64 millimetres. The total height of the Main Piece is 92 millimetres.

 

Miniature Piece

 

4          The Miniature Piece of the Cross of Valour is a half-size replica of the Main Piece suspended from a miniature ribbon 19 millimetres wide. At the highest point, the shield and crest, the thickness is 3 millimetres. From the shield and crest, the cross tapers equally on all four sides down to an edge 1.5 millimetres in thickness. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 32 millimetres. The total height of the Miniature Piece is 46 millimetres.

 

 

 

 

 

Ribbon Bar

 

5           The Ribbon Bar of the Cross of Valour consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 38 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high. An Emblem of the cross, 4 millimetres in diameter, is attached at the centre of the Ribbon Bar.

 

Lapel Badge

 

6           The Lapel Badge of the Cross of Valour is a replica of the cross 10 millimetres in diameter.

 

Further Awards

 

7            Second and subsequent awards of the Cross of Valour are recognised by the presentation of a gold Bar 35 millimetres wide and 6 millimetres high. The Bar has a central replica of the cross 5 millimetres in diameter. The Bar is worn attached to the ribbon of the original award. A half-size replica of the Bar is worn attached to the ribbon of the Miniature Piece. An additional Emblem of the cross, 4 millimetres in diameter, is attached to the Ribbon Bar.

 

Wearing

 

8            The Cross of Valour is worn on the left breast whenever full-size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Miniature Piece is worn whenever miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time with service dress. The Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The manner of wearing Australian Bravery Decorations is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.

THE STAR OF COURAGE

Main Piece

 

9            The Star of Courage is a silver seven-pointed star, ensigned with the Crown of St Edward in silver. Each axis of the seven-pointed star measures 50 millimetres. The star is surmounted by a silver suspender bar of fixed configuration, with the raised words 'FOR COURAGE' running the width of the bar on the obverse. On the obverse the star bears a central device of the shield and crest of the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia with the seven points of the star having a raised textured finish. The reverse of the star has a raised

textured finish all over but the suspender bar is clear to allow for engraving of the recipient's name.

 

10      The ribbon for the Star of Courage is 32 millimetres wide and is blood-red with a magenta central band 14 millimetres wide.

 

11      At the highest point, the shield and crest, the thickness is 4 millimetres. From the shield and crest, the star tapers o'n all sides down to an edge 1.2 millimetre in thickness. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 63 millimetres. The total height of the Main Piece is 94 millimetres.

 

 

 

Miniature Piece

 

12       The Miniature Piece of the Star of Courage is a half-size replica of the Main Piece suspended from a miniature ribbon, 16 millimetres wide. At the highest point, the shield and crest, the thickness is 2.5 millimetres. From the shield and crest, the star tapers on all sides down to an edge 1.2 millimetre in thickness. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 32 millimetres. The total height of the Miniature Piece is 47 millimetres.

 

Ribbon Bar

 

13      The Ribbon Bar of the Star of Courage consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high. An Emblem of the star, 4 millimetres in diameter, is attached at the centre of the ribbon.

 

Lapel Badge

 

14      The Lapel Badge of the Star of Courage is a representation of the star 10 millimetres in diameter.

 

Further Awards

 

15      Second and subsequent awards of the Star of Courage are recognised by the presentation of a silver Bar 35 millimetres wide and 6 millimetres high. The Bar has a central replica of the star 5 millimetres in diameter. The Bar is worn attached to the ribbon of the original award. A half-size replica of the Bar is worn attached to the ribbon of the Miniature Piece. An additional Emblem of the star, 4 millimetres in diameter, is attached to the Ribbon Bar.

Wearing

 

16      The Star of Courage is worn on the left breast whenever full-size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Miniature Piece is worn whenever miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time with service dress. The Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The manner of wearing Australian Bravery Decorations is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.

 

THE BRAVERY MEDAL

 

Main Piece

 

17      The Bravery Medal is a circular bronze medal, 38 millimetres in diameter, ensigned with the Crown of St Edward in bronze. The medal is surmounted by a bronze suspender bar of fixed configuration, with the raised words 'FOR BRAVERY' running the width of the bar on the obverse. On the obverse the medal bears a central device of the shield and crest of the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia on a background of wattle blossom, contained by a zigzag border. The reverse of the medal is a background of wattle blossom, contained by a zigzag border and the suspender bar is clear to allow for engraving of the recipient's name.

 

 

 

18      The ribbon for the Bravery Medal is 32 millimetres wide and has 15 alternating stripes of blood-red and magenta.

 

19       At the highest point, at the edge of the medal, the thickness is 3 millimetres. The reverse of the medal forms a concave design with various depths. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 56 millimetres. The total height of the Main Piece is 95 millimetres.

 

Miniature Piece

 

20       The Miniature Piece of the Bravery Medal is a half-size replica of the Main Piece suspended from a miniature ribbon 16 millimetres wide. At the highest point, at the edge of the medal, the thickness is 2 millimetres. The reverse of the medal forms a concave design with various depths. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 28 millimetres. The total height of the Miniature Piece is 47.5 millimetres.

Ribbon Bar

 

21      The Ribbon Bar of the Bravery Medal consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high. An Emblem of the medal, 5 millimetres in diameter, is attached at the centre of the ribbon.

 

Lapel Badge

 

22      The Lapel Badge of the Bravery Medal is a replica of the medal 10 millimetres in diameter.

 

Further Awards

 

23      Second and subsequent awards of the Bravery Medal are recognised by the presentation of a bronze Bar 35 millimetres wide and 6 millimetres high. The Bar has a central replica of the medal 5 millimetres in diameter. The Bar is worn attached to the ribbon of the original award. A half-size replica of the Bar is worn attached to the ribbon of the Miniature Piece. An additional Emblem of the medal, 5 millimetres in diameter, is attached to the Ribbon Bar.

Wearing

 

24      The Bravery Medal is worn on the left breast whenever full-size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Miniature Piece is worn whenever miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time with service dress. The Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The manner of wearing Australian Bravery Decorations is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.

 

THE COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT

 

Main Piece

 

25      The Commendation for Brave Conduct is a silver-gilt sprig of mimosa 30 millimetres wide and 9 millimetres high mounted on a blood-red backing ribbon

 

 

32 millimetres wide and 90 millimetres high. The centre of the sprig is 19 millimetres from the bottom of the ribbon and 16 millimetres from either edge, mounted at a 45-degree angle with the stem of the sprig pointing to the bottom left of the ribbon as viewed by the observer.

 

26       When the sprig is viewed horizontally, the stem at the base of the sprig is 3 millimetres wide and 1.5 millimetres high. The sprig then fans out, with the addition of leaves in a V-shape pattern, to 9 millimetres wide progressively getting narrower as it reaches the top, the last two leaves are 3 millimetres wide. At the base of the sprig and directly above the stem are eight mimosa flowers, in the form of raised domes, of various sizes sitting on top of the leaves. At the highest point, the raised mimosa flowers, the sprig thickness is 2.5 millimetres. At the lowest point, the leaves and stem, the sprig thickness is 2 millimetres.

 

Miniature Piece

 

27      The Miniature Piece of the Commendation for Brave Conduct is a half-sized replica of the Main Piece, a silver-gilt sprig of mimosa, 15 millimetres wide and

4.5 millimetres high, mounted on a blood-red backing ribbon 16 millimetres wide and 45 millimetres high, in the same way as the Main Piece.

 

28       When the sprig is viewed horizontally, the stem at the base of the sprig is 1.5 millimetres wide and 1 millimetre high. The sprig then fans out, with the addition of leaves in a V-shape pattern, to 4.5 millimetres wide progressively getting narrower as it reaches the top, the last two leaves are 1.5 millimetres wide. At the base of the sprig and directly above the stem are eight mimosa flowers, in the form of raised domes, of various sizes sitting on top of the leaves. At the highest point, the raised mimosa flowers, the sprig thickness is 2 millimetres. At the lowest point, the leaves and stem, the sprig thickness is 1.5 millimetres.

Ribbon Bar

 

29      The Ribbon Bar of the Commendation for Brave Conduct consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high with a miniature of the insignia of the Commendation for Brave Conduct attached to the ribbon, horizontally.

 

Lapel Badge

 

30      The Lapel Badge of the Commendation for Brave Conduct is a miniature of the Commendation.

 

Further Awards

 

31      Second and subsequent awards of the Commendation for Brave Conduct are recognised by the presentation of an additional Commendation which is worn attached to the ribbon of the original award, above the first Commendation. A half-size replica of the Commendation is worn attached to the ribbon of the Miniature Piece. An additional Emblem in the form of a miniature Commendation is attached to the Ribbon Bar, along with previous awards.

 

 

 

 

Wearing

 

32       The Commendation for Brave Conduct is worn on the left breast on all occasions when full-size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Miniature Piece is worn whenever miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time with service dress or civilian dress at the discretion of the recipient. The Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The manner of wearing Australian Bravery Decorations is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.

 

THE GROUP BRAVERY CITATION

 

Main Piece

 

33      The Group Bravery Citation is a device which has a raised bronze sprig of wattle, 25 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high, centrally positioned on a silver rectangle 30 millimetres wide and 15 millimetres high with a highly polished finish. The Group Bravery Citation bears two pins on the reverse for stabilisation.

 

34       When the device is viewed horizontally, the sprig of wattle forms an arc shape with the bottom and top of the wattle orientated towards the two bottom corners of the device. The base of the device is 1 millimetre thick. The sprig of wattle is framed by a raised silver border running along the edge of the base of the device and it is 1 millimetre wide, 1 millimetre high and 1 millimetre thick. The bronze sprig of wattle thickness is 2 millimetres.

 

Further Awards

 

35      Further awards of the Group Bravery Citation are recorded by a warrant describing the separate action being recognised.

 

Wearing

 

36      The Group Bravery Citation is worn on the left lapel or left breast whenever orders, decorations and medals are worn. The manner of wearing Australian Bravery Decorations is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.

 

ORDER OF WEAR

 

37      The Australian Bravery Decorations are worn in accordance with The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards.

 

NOTE

 

38      The Letters Patent approved by The Sovereign institutes the Decorations and ordains that the Decorations are governed by the Australian Bravery Decorations Regulations. These Regulations, approved by The Sovereign, set out the terms and conditions of the Decorations, and states that the design, and manner of wearing, of the Decorations are determined by the Governor-General.

 

39      This document is known as the Determination and it informs the design of the Australian Bravery Decorations, its associated insignia, and that the order of

 

 

wearing is in accordance· with The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards and the manner of wearing is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia. The design of the Australian Bravery Decorations and associated insignia must be in accordance with the relevant technical specifications.

 

40       The placement of the Australian Bravery Decorations are approved by The Sovereign, and The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards is the notification by the Governor-General of the positioning of all awards in the Australian honours system.

 

41      These instruments collectively inform the rules and conditions associated with the Australian Bravery Decorations.

 

 

Overview

The Australian Bravery Decorations Determination 2023, enacted by the Governor-General in accordance with the Australian Bravery Decoration Regulations, revokes the 2012 determination and sets out the new designs, insignia, and wearing protocols for the Australian Bravery Decorations. These decorations, established through Letters Patent by the Sovereign, are regulated by the Australian Bravery Decorations Regulations, which outline the terms and conditions governing these honours. The policy objective is to ensure that the Australian Bravery Decorations appropriately recognise acts of exceptional bravery and are worn in a manner consistent with the established order of precedence and guidelines. The designs and specifications are intended to reflect the significance of these awards and to provide clear instructions for their presentation and wear, ensuring consistency and respect for the bravery they honour.

Scope and Application

The Australian Bravery Decorations Determination applies to the recognition of acts of bravery in Australia by the establishment and regulation of bravery awards. The determination applies to any person who has performed acts of exceptional bravery in any situation. The determination governs the design, insignia, and manner of wearing of the bravery decorations, including the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation. The provisions of this determination apply throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. The determination does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds for eligibility for these bravery awards. The Australian Bravery Decoration Regulations, which are subordinate instruments to the Letters Patent, may provide further detail on the application and administration of the bravery awards. The design and manner of wearing of the bravery decorations and their insignia are subject to the technical specifications outlined in the determination.

Key Provisions

The Australian Bravery Decorations Determination (C2023G01261) outlines the design and manner of wearing for Australian Bravery Decorations, replacing the previous determination made in 2012. The determination specifies the detailed design elements and specifications for each of the bravery decorations, including the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation. It also provides details on the ribbon bars and lapel badges associated with each decoration, and specifies the manner in which they should be worn. For example, the Cross of Valour is a gold cross that is worn on the left breast when full-size orders, decorations, and medals are worn, while the Miniature Piece is worn with miniatures of orders, decorations, and medals. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time with service dress, and the Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The determination also specifies the design and specifications for second and subsequent awards of each decoration, as well as the design and specifications for the Group Bravery Citation. The Australian Bravery Decorations Determination imposes obligations and requirements on the parties or entities it governs. The design and specifications of the Australian Bravery Decorations and associated insignia must be in accordance with the relevant technical specifications, and the placement of the decorations are approved by The Sovereign. The manner of wearing Australian Bravery Decorations is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia. The determination also specifies the order of wear for the Australian Bravery Decorations, which is in accordance with The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards. There are no offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned in the Australian Bravery Decorations Determination for breach of the provisions of the determination. However, it is important to note that the determination is made under the authority of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting in pursuance of regulations 3 and 13 of the Australian Bravery Decoration Regulations. The regulations, which were approved by The Sovereign, set out the terms and conditions of the Decorations, and state that the design, and manner of wearing, of the Decorations are determined by the Governor-General. Therefore, any breach of the provisions of the determination may be subject to the penalties and consequences outlined in the Australian Bravery Decoration Regulations.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
National Security Law
Instrument
Gazette Notice
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Regulatory Standards
Wearing

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.