What are the Order of Australia medals? Frank Madill explains

Mr Madill is Tasmania’s Order of Australia Association director. 

The awards are completely independent of the government, and nominated by other Australians.

“It’s a unique award in the world given that any citizen can nominate any citizen. There is no political component to it at all,” Mr Madill said. “There is an independent panel, about 13 of them, they’re all individuals, they’re not politicians, but they are prominent people. It all goes the governor general’s office and he has a separate part in his office that processes all the nominations.”

The highest award is the Companion of the Order of Australia medal. 

Mr Madill said someone would have given “exceptional” service to receive the accolade. The award is described as being an eminent achievement and merit to the highest degree to Australia and humanity at large. A maximum of 30 Companion of the medals are given out annually. 

The Officer of the Order of Australia is for achievement services that significantly benefits Australia and the world. 

“The example for that would be a scientist who made a significant discovery,” Mr Madill said.  

A maximum of 125 of these awards can be distributed annually. 

Exceptional service to the community in a number of different ways is the criteria for the third award, known as the Member of the Order of Australia. 

“People that have been in public office, but also in a lot of volunteer things are generally are represented there,” Mr Madill said. 

No more than 300 of those awards are given annually. 

The Order of Australia medal is where the confusion occurs, he said.  

“A lot of people think the medal is the top award, but it isn’t. It’s the fourth of the grades and it is for outstanding local community service,” Mr Madill said.  

There is no limit to the number of annual recipients.