members of declared eligible organisations, police and military
Clasps
25
Status
Currently awarded
Established
16 April 1999
Total
4,712[1]
Order of Wear
Next (higher)
Police Overseas Service Medal[2]
Next (lower)
National Emergency Medal[3]
Related
Australian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those who perform humanitarian service in a foreign country, in particular those working in dangerous environments or conditions or during a humanitarian crisis. The award was introduced by letters patent on 16 April 1999, following a review of the Australian honours and awards system beginning in 1995.
Potential recipients have to prove they worked for a minimum of 30 days in the location depicted by the clasp, during a period of time set in the award criteria. In addition, potential recipients have to be working for an aid organisation recognised by the criteria or with a United Nations taskforce during that timeframe. In 2005, special criteria were established for people working during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake or the 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake, with a maximum time period of 7 or 14 days depending on the time frame.
The medal was originally intended as a civilian award, in parallel with the Australian Service Medal and the Police Overseas Service Medal, and until 2005 the Australian Defence Force had never been declared an eligible organisation. This is because, in most cases, the Australian Service Medal is already available to military personnel serving alongside humanitarian relief operations. However, defence personnel on leave of absence and serving an eligible organisation could qualify for the medal. The declaration of eligible organisations for the Indian Ocean clasp was the first time the Australian Defence Force was declared an eligible organisation, as Operation Sumatra Assist was purely a disaster relief operation and did not attract any military operational service award. The Australian Defence Force was again declared an eligible organisation for the participation of its personnel in Operation Pakistan Assist, part of the Australian humanitarian response to 8 October 2005 Pakistan earthquake.
However, the medal has not been awarded to Defence personnel assigned to Operation Tsunami Assist who both lived through both Tsunami's and were forced assisgned in Penang Malaysia. Elements include 324 Combat Support Squadron (and operational augmentees) and Rifle Company Butterworth. All attempts by ADF members to be recognised for their service in Operation Tsunami Assist whilst serving in Malaysia (including those injured or who lost family during both Tsunami's) have been rejected by Prime Minister and Cabinet for the HOSM and by the Department of Defence for the Australian Service Medal.
^Governor-General Annual Report 2022-23(PDF). Governor General of Australia. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^"The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards" (PDF). It's an Honour. Australian Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
^"National Emergency Medal". Australian Honours Secretariat. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
and 26 Related for: Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal information
The HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those who perform humanitarianservice in...
aftermath of a humanitarian crisis. The medal is awarded to people that have responded to emergencies both in the United Kingdom or overseas. In July 2023...
of humanitarian and service awards is an index to articles on notable awards given for humanitarianism and service in the sense of community service, public...
The Police OverseasServiceMedal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to members of an Australian police force in recognition...
health in the Northern Territory". He was also awarded the HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal in 2021 for his contributions during the 2015 Cyclone Pam...
Australian ServiceMedal Police OverseasServiceMedal (Australia) HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal National Emergency Medal (Australia) Civilian Service Medal...
Civilian Rhodesia Medal Police OverseasServiceMedalHumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal National Emergency Medal Civilian ServiceMedal 1939–1945 National...
international peacekeeping organisations; HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal – The HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal (HOSM) honours members of recognised...
Operational ServiceMedal – Africa Police OverseasServiceMedalHumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal National Emergency Medal Civilian ServiceMedal 1939–1945...
needed] In 1997 Kaldas was awarded the National Medal. In 2008 he received the Australian Police Medal.[10][11] In addition to awards under the Australian...
Queenslanders in need. That same year she was awarded the HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal. Appointed by the Australia Government, Pascarl served for...
The Singapore Armed Forces OverseasServiceMedal is awarded to a member of the SAF who was engaged in service in an area outside Singapore after 9 August...
circumstances for the award of the HumanitarianOverseasServiceMedal, so that all who served in the Indonesian humanitarian mission would be eligible, including...
and Syria (2016–present) HumanitarianMedal (2023–present) Wider ServiceMedal (2024–present) Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom Military...
Meritorious ServiceMedal Alaska Air Medal Alaska Commendation Medal Alaska Achievement Medal Alaska HumanitarianServiceMedal Alaska State ServiceMedal Alaska...
Emergency Service. Members may be eligible for Australian and Queensland Honours. National medals Honours worn in the order shown. State medals Queensland...
America. For services to Business and to Sustainability. Dr Sara Pantulaino Chief Executive, ODI. For services to Peacebuilding, to Humanitarian Assistance...
The Commemorative Medal for Humanitarian Assistance in Disasters (Dutch: Herinneringsmedaille voor Humanitaire Hulpverlening bij Rampen) originally called...
Defense Superior ServiceMedal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious ServiceMedal with oak leaf cluster...
Defence Forces who have been deployed on overseas missions by direction of the Government where no other mission medal has been awarded. It was first awarded...
Global Information
