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| Bravery Medal (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bravery Medal |
| Caption | Obverse of the Bravery Medal |
| Awarded by | Australian Honours System |
| Type | Civil decoration |
| Eligibility | Civilians, Australian Defence Force |
| Awarded for | Acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Post nominals | BM |
| Established | 1975 |
| First awarded | 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours |
Bravery Medal (Australia) is an Australian decoration instituted in 1975 to recognise acts of bravery by Australian citizens and others in hazardous circumstances. It appears within the Australian Honours System alongside awards such as the Cross of Valour (Australia), Star of Courage (Australia), and Commendation for Brave Conduct. The medal complements awards like the Victoria Cross for Australia and the Order of Australia by specifically honouring civilian and service-related bravery.
The Bravery Medal was created during the premiership of Gough Whitlam as part of a broader restructure of Australian honours influenced by precedents from the Imperial Honours System and reforms under Malcolm Fraser and Robert Hawke. Its establishment followed debates in the Parliament of Australia and recommendations from the Australian Honours Secretariat and the Chancellery of Honours that sought independence from Imperial awards. The first investitures occurred during the Queen's Birthday Honours with approvals routed through the Governor-General of Australia and the Honours and Awards Secretariat. Over time recipients have included personnel associated with agencies such as the Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police Force, Victoria Police, Queensland Ambulance Service, and the Australian Defence Force.
Eligibility for the Bravery Medal extends to Australian citizens and to non-citizens whose actions involve Australian interests, including members of the Australian Defence Force, officers of the Australian Federal Police, and volunteers from organisations like Surf Life Saving Australia and the Country Fire Authority (Victoria). The award recognises acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances, distinct from gallantry awards such as the Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) and the Conspicuous Service Cross. Recommendations are assessed against criteria set by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat and final approval rests with the Governor-General on the advice of the Council for the Order of Australia in consultation with state authorities including the New South Wales Government, Victorian Government, and Queensland Government.
The Bravery Medal is struck in silver and features a circular design with the Crown of Saint Edward surmounting the medal, reflecting the role of the Monarch of Australia. The obverse depicts a radiating star and the inscription denoting bravery; the reverse is plain or engraved with the recipient’s details by the official medalmaker contracted through the Royal Australian Mint or private firms linked to the Australian Government Solicitor procurement. The ribbon displays a central magenta stripe flanked by white and deep blue, colours chosen in consultation with heraldic advisers from the Heraldry Advisory Committee and designers with links to the Canberra School of Art.
Recipients of the Bravery Medal are entitled to use the postnominal letters "BM" in formal lists, in line with conventions used by awards such as the Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery Decorations. In the official Order of Wear administered by the Governor‑General of Australia and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Bravery Medal ranks below the Star of Courage (Australia) and above the Commendation for Brave Conduct. Its placement affects wearing with other decorations like the Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 and campaign medals such as the Australian Service Medal.
Recipients include civilians, emergency service personnel, and members of the Australian Defence Force, with notable awardees associated with incidents handled by the Australian Federal Police, NSW Ambulance Service, Victoria State Emergency Service, and Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Famous cases involved responses to disasters linked to the Black Saturday bushfires, the Port Arthur massacre, the 2002 Bali bombings, and maritime rescues near the Great Barrier Reef and the Bass Strait. Individual recipients have included members connected to institutions such as the Australian Red Cross, St John Ambulance Australia, Maritime Union of Australia, and Volunteer Rescue Association.
Nominations for the Bravery Medal may be submitted by state premiers, cabinet ministers, heads of agencies like the Australian Federal Police Commissioner or the Chief of the Defence Force, and by members of the public through channels administered by the Governor-General's Office and the Australian Honours Secretariat. Nominations are reviewed by committees drawing expertise from the Australian Honours and Awards Tribunal, representatives of state and territory award panels including the Tasmanian Government and the Western Australian Government, and subject-matter advisers from organisations such as Surf Life Saving Australia and the Country Fire Authority (Victoria), before recommendations proceed to the Governor-General.
Since inception, hundreds of Bravery Medals have been awarded, with annual announcements typically coinciding with the Australia Day Honours and the Queen's Birthday Honours. Statistical analyses by the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Australian Bureau of Statistics on award recipients and incident types have informed policy discussions in the Attorney-General's Department and influenced training in agencies such as the NSW Police Force Academy and the Australian Defence Force Academy. The award has had cultural impact reflected in coverage by media outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Sydney Morning Herald, and the Age (Melbourne), and has been cited in academic work from institutions like the Australian National University and the University of Sydney.
Category:Australian civil awards Category:Civil awards and decorations of Australia