Police Overseas Service Medal POSM

The Police Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those members of an Australian Police force who undertake service;

• with international peace-keeping organisations, or
• following a request from another government for assistance.

The award was introduced by letters patent on 25 April 1991. Recipients of the Police Overseas Service Medal are not entitled to any post-nominal letters as a result.

The Police Overseas Service Medal features a globe of the world surmounted by a branch of wattle, which is Australia’s national floral emblem. The globe is centred on Cyprus, the first international deployment of Australian police. The rim of the medal is a chequerboard pattern, which symbolises police forces across the world. The circular, nickel-silver medal is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward.
The back of the medal displays a Federation Star. The words ‘Police Overseas Service Medal’ are inscribed around the rim.
The ribbon consists of alternating squares of black and white in the chequerboard pattern commonly representative of police services.