Commonwealth Honours
The Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth acknowledges the invaluable contributions of time, effort and dedication given by its many members around the Commonwealth. Commonwealth Headquarters accept nominations for consideration by the Commonwealth Honours Committee twice a year from the Commonwealth Member Organisations.

The role of the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth Headquarters is to take a leadership and partnership role in co-ordinating drowning prevention initiatives and activities world-wide by facilitating the development of community based drowning prevention strategies and lifesaving education programs across Commonwealth nations.

The Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth acknowledges the invaluable contributions of time, effort and dedication given by its many members around the Commonwealth and takes great pride in acknowledging these contributions.

Commonwealth Headquarters accept nominations for consideration by the Commonwealth Honours Committee twice a year from the Commonwealth Member Organisations. Royal Life saving Society – Australia is the Member Organisation in Australia – and is responsible for collection and submission of approved Nomination and Citation forms.

Commonwealth Honours

Commonwealth Service Awards - Volunteers

Certificate of Thanks
Significant contribution of an individual/club/school/organisation as instructors, examiners or committee members.

Service Commendation
Recognise continuous service, contributions or achievements by individuals for at least 2 years

Commonwealth President's Award
Recognise exceptional service or contributions of organisations, clubs and schools

Service Medal
Minimum 4 years outstanding service as an active volunteer.

Bar to Service Medal
Recognition of a further 4 years outstanding service as an active volunteer of services that led to award of Service Medal.

Service Cross
Recipients of Service Medal with 12 years outstanding involvement as an active volunteer.

Bar to Service Cross
Recognition of a further 4 years service as an active volunteer for services that led to award of Service Cross. Minimum 16 years outstanding service.

Honorary Life Member
20 years involvement and recipients of Service Cross with outstanding dedication to exemplary service with RLSSA.

Honorary Life Governor
24 years outstanding involvement and previous recipients of Honorary Life Member award.

Vice President
The Society's highest honour for those who have given outstanding and exemplary service to the Society over more than 28 years.

Commonwealth Awards – Staff

Commonwealth Service Order
Minimum 5 years service by a past or present professional officer or member of staff of a Member Branch who has supported Commonwealth Headquarters or development support to other Commonwealth nations.

Bar to Commonwealth Service Order
Minimum 10 years service by a past or present professional officer or member of staff of a Member Branch who has previously earned a Commonwealth Service Order and has continued to support Commonwealth Headquarters or development support to other Commonwealth nations. Can be awarded every 5 years.

How to apply
To nominate/apply for an Honour Award/s, please contact your State and Territory Member Organisation.

Commonwealth Bravery Awards

Bravery Awards are given to any person who undertakes a rescue or an attempted rescue in an aquatic environment. Nominations should be forwarded to respective State and Territory Member Organisations as soon as possible following the incident.

Russell Medal
Awarded to a person 18 years or younger who during the previous year has carried out the most outstanding resuscitation or attempted resuscitation of a person.

Mountbatten Medal
Awarded to the most gallant rescue or rescue attempt undertaken by the holder of a Royal Life Saving Society Award.

Ireland Medal
Awarded annually to an Irish citizen/person or person of Irish descent for the most outstanding aquatic rescue or rescue attempt anywhere in the world within the preceding two years.

Commonwealth Service Awards – Lifesaving

King Edward VII Cup
Commonwealth Council award to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to lifesaving. Awarded every 4 years at RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Conference

HRH Prince Michael of Kent Certificate of Merit
Awarded for outstanding service to the Society or, for outstanding acts of bravery in an aquatic environment by an individual(s) not eligible for the Russell or Mountbatten Medal.