Australian Antarctic Medal

The Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM) is awarded for outstanding service in scientific research or exploration in connection with an Australian Antarctic expedition or for support of such work. The service or support is normally for a period of at least 12 months.

The AAM was introduced in 1987, and replaced the Imperial award of the Polar Medal of the United Kingdom. Announcements of the award are usually made on 21 June in a special Midwinter’s Day honours list.

Recipients of the Australian Antarctic Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "AAM".

Description

 * The AAM is an octagonal nickel-silver medal ensigned with a hexagonal ice-crystal device which links the medal to the suspension bar. The obverse depicts the Southern Hemisphere showing Australia and the Antarctic enclosed by the inscription "For Outstanding Service in the Antarctic".
 * The reverse of the medal shows an Antarctic expeditioner leaning into a blizzard to use an ice axe outside Mawson's Huts. The ice-crystal device is repeated on the reverse of the medal.
 * The 32 millimetre-wide ribbon is snow-white moiré. At the edges three shades of blue merge into the white.

Award statistics
The medal was first awarded on 22 June 1987 to 16 people, and was awarded on 21 August 1989 to 2 people. Otherwise, the medal has been awarded on 21 June.

On 21 June 2011, the medal had been awarded on 23 occasions, to a total of 83 different people.

On 21 June 2012, Dr Graham Robertson became the first recipient to be awarded a clasp to his medal, and Dr Neil Adams became the first posthumous awardee.