The start of a new year usually brings lots of questions, and 2022 so far is certainly no exception.
We’ve collated the most frequent ones and here’s the biggie. “Where do I wear my state medals?”
It all starts in Canberra.
The Australian System of Honours and Awards is administered by the Honours Secretariat of the Governor-general, on behalf of the Crown.
Approved awards in the system are worn on the left breast under well-established protocols.
In recent years, Australian states and territories have instituted a range of awards to recognise service and achievement of members of state and territory organisations.
These include long service, specific events medals and citations; and bravery awards for police, ambulance, emergency service and corrective service personnel. Even local councils and shires are starting to follow suit.
These awards are not included in the Australian system and are not to be worn with official awards. In most responsible Australian states and territories they are worn on the right breast.
They cannot be worn on a defence uniform.
A previous WA police commissioner decreed that WA police medals are to be worn on the left breast on police uniform, in contravention of Australian protocols, and that continues; and a habit has developed where WA, and other government agencies have emulated that directive. It is somewhat intriguing that the directive includes state ‘ethical’ and diligent service awards.
The administration of these local awards is the sole responsibility of the respective states and territories. If you have any questions on these awards, you should contact the protocol branches of the respective services in your state or territory.
