Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)

Australian Defence Force Award

Award

Conspicuous Service Cross

Medal and ribbon

Type| Medal
Awarded for| outstanding commitment to duty or outstanding application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-war-like situations[1]
Presented by| Australia
Eligibility| Members of the Australian Defence Force and Officers & Instructors of the Australian Defence Force Cadets
Post-nominals| CSC
Status| Currently awarded
Established| 18 October 1989
Final award| 2025 Birthday Honours
Total| 1,422[2]

Ribbon for CSC & Bar

Order of Wear
Next (higher)| Member of the Royal Victorian Order[3]
Next (lower)| Nursing Service Cross[3]
Related| Conspicuous Service Medal

The Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) is a decoration (medal) of the Australian honours system. It is awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force "for outstanding devotion to duty or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations".[1] In November 2019, 1129 people were listed as recipients.[4] All ranks are eligible for the award.[5]

## History

[edit]

The Conspicuous Service Cross was introduced in 1989 to acknowledge outstanding achievement and performance of duty in non-warlike circumstances. Previously, there had been no option for such recognition other than using awards within the Order of Australia.[6]

## Description

[edit]

* The medal is a nickel-silver modified Maltese Cross with each axis measuring 38 millimetres, ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward in nickel-silver, with the arms of the cross interspersed with fluted rays. The obverse bears a central device of the Southern Cross surrounded by a laurel wreath.
* The back of the cross shows a horizontal panel.
* The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, having alternating diagonal stripes of bush green and sandy gold 6 millimetres wide.
* Additional awards of the CSC wear a nickel-silver bar with a superimposed replica of the cross. The bar is attached to the ribbon of the original award.

## Multiple award recipients

[edit]

Several people have received the Conspicuous Service Cross for a second time (C.S.M. and Bar), including:

| Awardee  | Original award  | Bar awarded

|
|
|

Colonel | Jeffrey Quirk | 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours | 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours
Vice Admiral | Stuart Mayer | 2008 Australia Day Honours | 2011 Australia Day Honours
Colonel | Mark Brewer | 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours | 2011 Australia Day Honours
Lieutenant Colonel | Rolf Audrins | 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours | 2013 Australia Day Honours
Group Captain | Chris Hanna | 27 November 2003  | 2013 Australia Day Honours
Captain | Jan Noonan | 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours | 2014 Australia Day Honours
Captain | Phillip Andrew Henry | 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours | 2021 Australia Day Honours
Commander | Phillipa Hay | 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours | 2021 Australia Day Honours

## See also

[edit]

* Australian Honours Order of Wearing
* Post-nominal letters (Australia)
* Category:Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b Conspicuous Service Cross, www.pmc.gov.au
2. ^ Governor-General Annual Report 2023-24 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
3. ^ a b "The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). Government House. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
4. ^ Conspicuous Service Cross recipients Archived 20 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine, www.itsanhonour.gov.au
5. ^ Maton 1995, p. 78.
6. ^ "Conspicuous Service". Department of Defence. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2017.

## References

[edit]

* Maton, Michael (1995). The National Honours & Awards of Australia. Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-679-1.

## External links

[edit]

* It's an Honour \- Australian government website

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia

(order of wearing)

National orders|

* / Order of Australia

Royal orders|

* Order of the Garter
* Order of the Thistle
* Order of Merit
* Royal Victorian Order
* Order of St John

Gallantry|

* Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)
* Star of Gallantry (SG)
* Medal for Gallantry (MG)
* Commendation for Gallantry

Bravery|

* Cross of Valour (CV)
* Star of Courage (SC)
* Bravery Medal (BM)
* Commendation for Brave Conduct
* Group Bravery Citation

Distinguished service|

* Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
* Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
* Commendation for Distinguished Service

Conspicuous service|

* Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
* Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Nursing service|

* Nursing Service Cross (NSC)

Meritorious service|

* Public Service Medal (PSM)
* Australian Police Medal (APM)
* Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
* Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)
* Emergency Services Medal (ESM)
* Australian Corrections Medal (ACM)
* Australian Intelligence Medal (AIM)
* Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM)
* Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)

Campaign medals
(service periods)|

| 1939–1945|

* Australia Service Medal 1939–1945

|

1945–1975|

* Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975
* Australian General Service Medal for Korea (1953–1956)
* Vietnam Medal (1964–1973)
* Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal (1968–1973)
* Australian Service Medal 1945–1975

1975–2012|

* Australian Active Service Medal (1975–2017)
* Rhodesia Medal (1979–1980)
* International Force East Timor Medal (1999–2000)
* Afghanistan Medal (2001–2014)
* Iraq Medal (2003–2013)
* Australian Service Medal (1975–2014)

2012–present|

* Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection (2012–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – GMEO (2014–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations (2019–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery (2020–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa (2023–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Indo-Pacific (2025–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian (2012–present)

Special service|

* Police Overseas Service Medal
* Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
* National Emergency Medal
* Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
* National Police Service Medal
* Australian Sports Medal (2000, 2021–present)

Commemorative

* King Edward VII Coronation Medal (1902)
* King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
* Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
* 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal (1999)
* Centenary Medal (2001)
* Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
* Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)
* King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)

Long service|

* Defence Force Service Medal (1982–1998)
* Reserve Force Decoration (1982–1998) (RFD)
* Reserve Force Medal (1982–1998)
* Defence Long Service Medal (1998–)
* National Medal
* Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
* Service Medal of the Order of St John

Other defence awards|

* Australian Defence Medal
* Champion Shots Medal
* Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal
* / Unit Citation for Gallantry
* / Meritorious Unit Citation

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