The Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) was introduced in 1989 to recognise meritorious achievement or devotion to duty in non-warlike situations.
The CSM is a nickel-silver medal with the obverse having a central device of the Southern Cross surrounded by a laurel wreath. The reverse has a horizontal panel for recipient details over a design of fluted rays.
The CSM ribbon has alternating narrow diagonal stripes of bush green and sandy gold.
A further award of the CSM is denoted by a nickel-silver bar with a superimposed central replica of the Medal flanked by laurel leaves. When the ribbon is worn alone, the award of a bar is indicated by the addition of a ribbon bar emblem in the form of the Medal.
Recipients of the Conspicuous Service Medal are entitled to the postnominal letters ‘CSM’. Recipients of a bar to the CSM add ‘and Bar’ to the postnominal.
The source document for the CSM is:
CAG S108 of 7 May 1990 (Letters Patent and Regulations).
The nomination procedure is detailed in Defence Instruction (General) PERS 31-5 Australian Defence Force Policy on Nomination Procedures for the Order of Australia and Conspicuous Service Decorations.
The CSM is worn in the position notified by the Governor-General in The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
Web page last updated 13 December, 2011