The Police Overseas Service Medal is an award in the
Australian honours system
The Australian honours and awards system refers to all Order (distinction), orders, decorations, and medals, as instituted by letters patent from the Monarchy of Australia, Monarch of Australia and countersigned by the Australian prime minister a ...
. The award is presented to members of an Australian police force in recognition of service undertaken with an international peace-keeping organisations or following a request for assistance from a foreign government. The award was introduced by letters patent on 25 April 1991. In 2013 the criteria was amended to also include service by regular and patrol officers of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. Recipients of the medal are not entitled to any post-nominal letters.
Description
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
Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...
, 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 Commonwealth Star (also known as the Federation Star, the Seven Point Star, or the Star of Federation) is a seven-pointed star symbolising the Federation of Australia which came into force on 1 January 1901.
Six points of the Star represent ...
. The words 'Police Overseas Service Medal' are inscribed around the rim. The 32 mm-wide ribbon consists of alternating squares of
black and white in the chequerboard pattern commonly representative of police services.
Clasps
Nineteen
clasps have been declared for the Police Overseas Service Medal as of 2022. These are:
See also
*
Australian Honours Order of Precedence
The Governor-General of Australia has, at irregular intervals, notified for general information the positioning of the wearing of Australian Orders, Decorations and Medals in the '' Commonwealth of Australia Gazette''. The ''Order of Wearing Aus ...
References
External links
Gazetted RegulationsPolice Overseas Service Medal www.pmc.gov.au
{{Australian Honours System
Civil awards and decorations of Australia
Awards and honours of Australian law enforcement agencies
1991 establishments in Australia
Awards established in 1991