The important place of post-nominals

The next round of Australian Honours will be bestowed on 26 January 2023. Many recipients awarded at this time will be granted a post-nominal with their award, such as those who are appointed to the Order of Australia. However, the significance of post-nominals is sometimes missed or misunderstood, even by those who hold them.

What are post-nominals?

Post-nominals are the letters associated with the Order of Australia or other awards or honours and are placed after a recipient’s family name. For example, Anne Bremner AM.

Post-nominals are an important acknowledgement of a person’s accomplishments. Their use showcases a person’s significant contribution to the community or their industry.

Australian Honours recipients are bestowed a post-nominal when they receive their honour and are encouraged to use them. Post-nominals include: 

• Companion of the Order (AC) (awarded to 35 people each year)
• Officer of the Order (AO) (awarded to 140 people)
• Member of the Order (AM) (awarded to 605 people)
• Medal of the Order (OAM) (awarded to unlimited people).

Where can post-nominals be used?

Post-nominals can be used anywhere a person’s name is used, including: 

• email signature
• lapel name badge
• table place card
• event program
• personal or professional website
• social media (such as LinkedIn and Twitter profiles).

A post-nominal should also be used in spoken language, for example, when introducing a person who has received an Australian Honour.

For example:

‘Please welcome our panel member Anne Bremner AM. Anne received her Member of the Order of Australia on Queen’s Birthday 2021 for significant service to people who are deaf or hard of hearing through sporting associations.’

Why are post-nominals important?

Using a post-nominal is a highly effective and visible way for a person to take ownership of their accomplishments, and helps to encourage others to do so too.

Victoria’s Recognition Matters campaign is designed to raise awareness of the accomplishments and contributions of women. From this perspective, women using post-nominals is particularly important and their use gives a woman's achievements visibility and denotes her as a leader in her field .

More information

• Read about the Order of Australia on the Governor-General’s website
• Search Australian Honours recipients