The Police Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those members of an Australian Police force who undertake service;
with international peace-keeping organisations, or
following a request from another government for assistance.
The award was introduced by letters patent on 25 April 1991.
Recipients of the Police Overseas Service Medal are not entitled to any post-nominal letters as a result.
The Police Overseas Service Medal features a globe of the world surmounted by a branch of wattle, which is Australia's national floral emblem. The globe is centred on Cyprus, the first international deployment of Australian police. The rim of the medal is a chequerboard pattern, which symbolises police forces across the world. The circular, nickel-silver medal is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward.
The back of the medal displays a Federation Star. The words 'Police Overseas Service Medal' are inscribed around the rim.
The 32 mm-wide ribbon consists of alternating squares of black and white in the chequerboard pattern commonly representative of police services.
Thirteen clasps have been declared for the Police Overseas Service Medal as of 8 January 2014. These are:
Afghanistan
1 October 2007 – present
Bougainville
November 1997 – present
Cambodia
May 1992 – September 1993
Cyprus
May 1964 – present
East Timor
25 October 1999 – 20 May 2005
Haiti
November 1994 – March 1995
Mozambique
March 1994 – December 1994
RAMSI
Service with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, 21 July 2003 – Present
Solomon Islands
1992
Somalia
April 1993 – July 1994
Sudan
Service with UNMIS, 9 March 2006 – July 2011
Timor Leste
20 May 2005 – December 2012
TPNG
1 July 1949 – 30 November 1973, For Australian Police on duty in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea
South Sudan
Service with UNMISS, July 2011 – present
