Australian Bravery Decorations

Australian Bravery Decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community. They selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

Bravery or courage differs from fortitude in a crisis situation. Bravery is a deliberate choice to go from a place of safety to danger or remain in a perilous position to provide help.

Australian Bravery Decorations date from the establishment of the Australian honours system in February 1975. The Group Bravery Citation was added in 1990.

There are four levels of decoration as well as the Group Bravery Citation, an award for a group of people involved in a single incident.

The Cross of Valour

The Cross of Valour is awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

The Cross of Valour was established on 14 February 1975 to recognise acts of bravery in other than warlike situations.

The cross it self is gold containing two other cross forms. This was designed to depict it as a cross among crosses.

The Cross of Valour is ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward and surmounted by the shield and crest of the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Cross is suspended from a ribbon by a bar inscribed "FOR VALOUR". The magenta ribbon is 38 millimetres wide and has a blood-red central band 16 millimetres wide.

The two reds in the ribbon are representing the colours of venous and arterial blood.

It may be awarded both to the military or civilians.

The Star of Courage

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

On February 14 1975 the Star of Courage was established. It may be awarded to both civilians or military personnel only for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

The Star of Courage is a silver seven-pointed star ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward in silver and surmounted by the shield and crest of the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia The Star is suspended from a ribbon by a bar inscribed "FOR COURAGE".

The blood-red ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and has a magenta central band 14 millimetres wide representing the colours of venous and arterial blood.

The Star of Courage ranks after the Cross of Valour but before the Bravery Medal.

A number of awards of the Stars of Courage have been awarded. Most have been awarded to civilians but a number have been awarded to service personnel for incidents that occurred both on and off duty.

The Bravery Medal

Like the Cross of Valour and the Star of Courage the Bravery Medal was instituted on February 14th of 1975. It is awarded only for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances to both the military or civilians.

The Bravery Medal is a bronze medal ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward in bronze and surmounted by the shield and crest of the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Medal is suspended from a ribbon by a bar inscribed "FOR BRAVERY". The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and has 15 alternating stripes of blood-red and magenta representing the colours of venous and arterial blood.

The Bravery Medal may be awarded posthumously and ranks after the Star of Courage but before the Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Awards of the Bravery Medal are usually gazetted twice yearly. Most have been awarded to civilians but a number have been awarded to service personnel for incidents that occurred both on and off duty.

Commendation for Brave Conduct

The Commendation for Brave Conduct is conferred for an act of bravery that is worthy of recognition. It is the fourth highest Australian Bravery Decoration. The Commendation or Brave Conduct is a silver-gilt sprig.

The citation instituted on March 5 1990 is awarded for a collective act of bravery by a group of persons in extraordinary circumstances that is considered worthy of recognition.

Group Bravery Citation

The Group Citation for Bravery is a bronze and silver rectangular badge, with a multi leaf sprig of wattle representing the nature of group participation - the coming together of the many to create a single entity.