Please note the salutation guidelines below are generic in relation to using gendered titles such as “Mr/Ms/Mrs”. We recommend the use of salutations as per the relevant official’s preference, if specified.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) remains committed to diversity, inclusion and equity. More information on the LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Plan .
How to address members of the British royal family and their representatives
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Queen | Her Majesty The Queen | Check the royal.uk | On presentation 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma’am' Check this royal.uk |
| A Royal Duke | His Royal Highness The Duke of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Prince | His Royal Highness Prince [first name] of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Princess | Her Royal Highness Princess [first name] of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| A Royal Duchess | Her Royal Highness The Duchess of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| A Royal Earl | His Royal Highness The Prince [first name], Earl of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Royal Countess | Her Royal Highness The Countess of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| Governor-General | His Excellency the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (or check the Governor-General's ) | See the Governor-General's | First and last meeting each day 'Your Excellency' otherwise 'Governor-General' or 'Sir' |
| Governor of State | Check the Governor of Victoria's | Your Excellency | Check the Governor of Victoria's |
| Spouse of State Governor | Check the Governor of Victoria's | Dear Mr/Mrs … | Check the Governor of Victoria's |
| Administrator of a Territory | See the NT Administrator's | See the NT Administrator's | See the NT Administrator's |
| Spouse of an Administrator of a Territory | Mr/Mrs … | Mr/Mrs … | See the NT Administrator's |
How to address members of the British and Australian nobility
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | The Duke of … | My Lord Duke | ‘Your Grace’ |
| Duchess | The Duchess of … | Dear Duchess | ‘Your Grace’ |
| Marquess | The Marquess of … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Marchioness | The Marchioness of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Earl | The Earl of … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Countess | The Countess of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Viscount | The Viscount … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Viscountess | The Viscountess of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Baron | Lord … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Baroness | Lady … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Baronet | Sir [first name] [last name] | Dear Sir [first name] | Sir [first name] or ‘Sir’ |
| Wife of Baronet | Lady [last name] | Dear Lady [last name] | Lady [last name] |
| Knight | Sir [first name] [last name] | Dear Sir [first name] | Sir [first name] or ‘Sir’ |
| Wife of Knight | Lady [last name] | Dear Lady [last name] | Lady [last name] |
| Dame | Dame [first name] [last name] | Dear Dame [first name] | Dame [first name] or ‘Ma’am’ |
How to address government officials
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | The Honourable [first name] [last name], Prime Minister of [country] | See the Parliament of Australia | See the Parliament of Australia |
| Premier of State | The Honourable [first name] [last name], Premier of [state] | Dear Premier | ‘Premier’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms…….’ |
| Members of the Parliament of Australia | |||
| Members of the State Parliament of Victoria | If a current or former Minister: ‘The Honourable …’ Others ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms …’ | See the Parliament of Victoria | If a current Minister ‘Minister …’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms …’ Others ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms …’ |
| High Court Judge | The Honourable … | See the High Court | |
| Supreme Court Judge | The Honourable Justice … | Dear Justice | In court ‘Your Honour’ Outside court ‘Justice [last name] |
| Judge of the County Court | His/Her Honour Judge [last name] | Dear Judge [last name] | In court ‘Your Honour’ Outside court ‘Justice [last name] |
| Lord Mayor | The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of [city], [first name] [last name] | Dear Lord Mayor | ‘Lord Mayor’ |
| Partner of Lord Mayor | Salutation [first name] [last name] | 'Salutation' | ‘Salutation' |
| Mayor | The Mayor of … | Dear Mayor [last name] or Mr/Mrs/Ms [last name] | ‘Mayor' or 'Mr/Mrs/Ms Mayor [last name]’ or ‘Sir/Madam’ |
| Partner of Mayor | Salutation '[first name]' '[last name]' | Dear Salutation [last name] | 'Salutation [last name]’ |
| Municipal Councillor | Councillor … | Dear Councillor | ‘Councillor [last name]’ |
How to address diplomatic and consular corps
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador | His/Her Excellency the Ambassador of … | Your Excellency | ‘Your Excellency’, ‘Sir/Madam Ambassador’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms’ |
| High Commissioner | His/Her Excellency the High Commissioner for … | Your Excellency | ‘Your Excellency’, ‘Sir/Madam High Commissioner’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms’ |
| Career Consuls-General | The Consul-General of … | Dear Consul-General | ‘Consul-General’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
| Honorary Consuls-General | The Consul-General of … | Dear Consul-General | ‘Consul-General’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
| Career Consuls | The Consul of … | Dear Consul | ‘Consul’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
| Honorary Consuls | The Consul of … | Dear Consul | ‘Consul’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
How to address religious leaders
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop (Church of England) | The Most Reverend the Archbishop of Melbourne | Dear Archbishop | Your Grace |
| Archbishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend the Archbishop of Melbourne | My Lord Archbishop | Your Grace |
| Bishop (Church of England) | The Right Reverend the Bishop of… | Dear Bishop | Bishop or Bishop [first name] |
| Bishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend… | My Lord | My Lord |
| Dean (Church of England) | The Very Reverend the Dean of [name of church] | Dear Dean | Dean [first name] or Dean |
| Bishop (Lutheran) | Bishop of [name of church] | Dear Bishop [first name last name] | Bishop or Bishop [first name] |
| Pastor (Lutheran) | Pastor of [name of church] | Pastor [first name last name] | Pastor or Pastor [first name] |
| Grand Mufti of Australia (Islam) | Grand Mufti | Dear Grand Mufti [first name] | Grand Mufti or Grand Mufti [first name] |
| Imam (Islam) | Imam | Dear Imam [first name] | Imam or Imam [first name] |
| Sheikh (Islam) | Sheikh | Dear Sheikh [first name] | Sheikh [first name] |
| Dean (Russian Orthodox) | Very Reverend Father | Dear Dean | Father or Father [first name] |
| Rabbi (Judaism) | Rabbi [first name last name] | Dear Rabbi [last name] | Rabbi |
| Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth (Judaism) | Chief Rabbi [first name last name] | Dear Chief Rabbi [last name] | Rabbi |
| Senior Rabbi (Judaism) | Senior Rabbi [first name last name] | Dear Rabbi [last name] | Rabbi |
| Senior Monk or Nun (Buddhist) | Most Venerable [first name last name] | Dear Most Venerable [first name last name] | Most Venerable or Most Venerable [first name last name] |
| Monk or Nun (Buddhist) | Venerable [first name last name] | Dear Venerable [first name last name] | Venerable [first name last name] |
| Dalai Lama (Tibetan) | His Holiness | His Holiness | Your Holiness |
| Patriach (Orthodox) | His Holiness or His Holiness Patriarch | Dear Patriarch or His Holiness | Your Holiness |
| Archbishop (Orthodox) | His Beatitude or His Eminence Archbishop | Dear Archbishop | Your Beautitude or Your Eminence |
| Bishop (Orthodox) | His Grace Bishop | Dear the Right Reverend or Bishop | Your Grace |
| Metropolitan (Orthodox) | His Eminence Metropolitan | Dear the Most Blessed | Your Eminence |
| Archimandrite (Orthodox) | The Very Reverend Father | Dear Very Reverend/Father | Father |
| Senior Priest (Orthodox) | The Very Reverend | Dear Reverend/Father | Father |
| Priest (Orthodox) | The Reverend Father | Dear Father | Father |
| Deacon (Orthodox) | The Reverend Father | Dear Father | Father |
| Chaplin (Hindu) | Hindu Saiva Chaplin | Dear Hindu Saiva Chaplin [last name] | Reverend Hindu Saiva Chaplin |
Reviewed 10 June 2022