The OAM, a prestigious Australian award, celebrates exceptional individuals for their remarkable contributions. Its exquisite design showcases a stunning mimosa flower, while the ribbon proudly displays Australia's national colours. Read more..
The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Civilian Division is a prestigious award that celebrates individuals for their noteworthy service and significant contributions to Australian society. Bestowed by the Governor-General of Australia, based on recommendations from the Council for the Order of Australia, the medal acknowledges accomplishments across a diverse range of areas, including community involvement, philanthropic efforts, and contributions to the arts and sciences.
The focal point of the medal's design is a mimosa flower head, shaped into a rounded disc. This motif serves as the foundational element for all classifications within the Order of Australia, extending to the related lapel pins as well. The design remains uniform, irrespective of whether it's for the General or Military Divisions, with no unique features to differentiate between them.
The accompanying ribbon is designed with a royal blue backdrop, adorned with a central stripe featuring gold mimosa blossoms. These colours were selected to mirror Australia's national colours when the order was initially founded. The ribbon intended for the Medal of the Order of Australia measures 32 millimetres in width for the full-sized version.
Lapel Pin
The OAM is represented with a lapel pin for day to day use. Click here for more information: OAM Lapel Pin.
If you order your medal unmounted, the medal and ribbon will be supplied as separate components. Miniature medals will be supplied with 15cm of ribbon and full size medals will be supplied with 30cm of ribbon.
The court mounting of medals involves securing medals to a stiff backing board, along with the placement of a brooch fitting on the board. This ensures that the medals remain firmly in place and do not shift or move about while being worn.
It is mandatory for active members of the Australian Defence Force to have their medals court mounted, as it is considered the appropriate method of presenting military honours in a professional and respectful manner. By doing so, the medals are given proper recognition and are displayed in a neat and organized fashion.The swing mounting of medals refers to the attachment of a medal to a ribbon that is allowed to hang freely from a brooch, which in turn is affixed to a uniform or clothing. This mounting style was commonly used for medals from the Boer War up to and including World War II, although there are no fixed guidelines or regulations regarding its use.
Miniature Court Mounted medals are mounted using the same method as Full size medals, yet they are typically worn to ceremonies were wearing full size medals would be impractical. These medals are commonly worn to all ceremonies that take place after 6 pm such as dinners.
Miniature Swing Mounted medals are mounted using the same method as Full size medals, yet they are typically worn to ceremonies were wearing full size medals would be impractical. These medals are commonly worn to all ceremonies that take place after 6 pm such as dinners.
A ribbon bar is a small, rectangular display of ribbons worn on military uniforms to represent various honours and awards earned by the wearer. These ribbons are arranged in a specific order and are attached to a backing, which is then attached to the uniform. Ribbon bars are a compact and convenient way for military personnel to display their achievements and are often used in situations where a full-sized medal or award would be impractical.
