Order of Australia | |
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Awarded by the Monarch of Australia | |
Type | National order |
Eligibility | All living Australian citizens |
Awarded for | Achievement and merit in service to Australia or humanity |
Status | Currently constituted |
Founder | Elizabeth II |
Sovereign Head | Charles III, King of Australia |
Chancellor | David Hurley, Governor-General |
Grades |
|
Former grades | Knight/Dame (AK/AD)[note 1] |
Statistics | |
First induction | 14 April 1975 |
Last induction | 2024 Australia Day Honours |
Total inductees |
|
Ribbons: general division; military division |
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service.[2] It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Government. Before the establishment of the order, Australian citizens could receive British honours, which continued to be issued occasionally in parallel until 1992.
The Monarch of Australia is sovereign head of the order,[2][3] while the Governor-General of Australia is the principal companion/dame/knight (as relevant at the time) and chancellor of the order. The governor-general's official secretary, Paul Singer (appointed August 2018), is secretary of the order. Appointments are made by the governor-general on behalf of the Monarch of Australia, based on recommendations made by the Council of the Order of Australia. Recent knighthoods and damehoods were recommended to the governor-general by the Prime Minister of Australia.
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