King’s 2025 Birthday Honours: Check Out the Complete List of Honorees

Share this @internewscast.com

A former prime minister, a renowned movie duo and an internationally celebrated novelist are among the Australians recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.

Scott Morrison, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin and JM Coetzee are some of the 830 people on the list, announced by Governor-General Sam Mostyn on Sunday night.

The list includes researchers in climate change and intellectual disabilities, businesswomen and activists, former police officers, Indigenous Elders and musicians.

Mostyn said the honours recognise the “selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity and care that flourish across our country”.

“Every day, and all across the country, Australians are doing extraordinary things with passion, generosity, energy, and resolve,” she said.

“To all who are being recognised in The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List, I want to offer my congratulations and gratitude for all that you have given to Australia — and I look forward to meeting many of you at the investiture of your awards,” Mostyn said.

Morrison, Luhrmann, Martin and Coetzee, as well as business executive Jennifer Westacott, were among 14 Australians named Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest of the four award rankings.

Use the table below to search the full list.

Breaking down the list

Of the 581 people recognised in the Order of Australia (general division), 14 were appointed AC, 31 Officer of the Order (AO), and 123 Member of the Order (AM), while 413 were awarded a Medal of the Order (OAM).

There were also 36 award recipients in the military division of the Order of Australia, 149 recipients of meritorious awards and 63 people awarded for distinguished and conspicuous service.

There were 378 men and 202 women in the general division this year, with one person preferring not to provide their gender.

At the age of 19, Scott Michael Guerini is the youngest recipient, awarded an OAM for his service to the community through charitable organisations. Guerini is the founder of Scott’s Great Walk for Telethon.

At the age of 101, Henry Young is the eldest living recipient. He received an OAM for service to veterans — having served several military posts — and to tennis, as a member of the Memorial Drive Tennis Club in South Australia.

Data relating to the number of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities was not provided. Diversity advocates have in previous years expressed concern that such honours do not accurately represent Australia’s multicultural makeup.

However, several people from CALD communities have been recognised.

The highest number of recipients was acknowledged for contributions to the community (269). Medicine (59), sport (45), arts (37), business and commerce (32) were also high-ranking categories, followed by education (20), and conservation and environment (19). Eight people were recognised for their contributions to multicultural affairs.

Recipients have often served across multiple fields.

Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)

Among the 14 Australians appointed AC, Morrison was recognised for his service to parliament as prime minister — particularly for steering the country through the COVID-19 pandemic, and for Australia’s contribution to AUKUS — a security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States.

Luhrmann was acknowledged for his service to the arts as a filmmaker, having directed films including Elvis, The Great Gatsby and Australia, along with theatre and cultural heritage. His wife, Catherine Martin, a costume designer, received her award for eminent service to the arts, specifically in costume, production, and set design, as well as for fostering emerging artistic talent.

Coetzee’s service to literature was attributed to his many books, including Disgrace, Life & Times of Michael K and Waiting for the Barbarians. He has been a professor of literature at the University of Adelaide since 2002.

Scott Morrison stands in front of the Australian flag, behind a microphone perched on a podium. He is wearing a black suit and black tie, as he speaks

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

Westacott was recognised for her service to business, tertiary education administration, the mental health sector and the community. She was the chief executive of the Business Council of Australia from 2011 to 2023 and has been a patron of Mental Health Australia since 2019.

Also on the list is veteran media figure Phillip Adams, for his service to broadcast media, journalism, the arts and cultural leadership, Mark Howden, for his service to environmental science and the global response on climate change, and Wendy McCarthy, for her service to children, health, the arts, community and women’s leadership.

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

This year, 31 Australians were appointed AO, including Christine Bigby, for distinguished service to people with intellectual disabilities and inclusion research. Bigby is the director of La Trobe University’s Living with Disability Research Centre, and has long worked with disability support and advocacy organisations.

Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, a Bangerang/Wiradjuri woman, was recognised for her service to the Indigenous community, education and reconciliation. She has been president of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc since 1999, and a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (2019-2023).

Naguib ‘Nick’ Kaldas, former NSW deputy police commissioner, was acknowledged for service to international and transnational law enforcement, counter-terrorism, multiculturalism and to veterans.

Skye McDonald, a professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of NSW, received an honour for her service to her field and research into social cognition disorders following traumatic brain injury. Jodie McVernon, professor and director of Doherty Epidemiology at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, was recognised for service to epidemiology, infection prevention and public health.

Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

Among the 123 Australians appointed AM was Aunty Millie Ingram, a Wiradjuri Elder who is being honoured for her significant service to the Indigenous community of NSW.

Aunty Millie moved to the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern in the 1950s and founded the first Aboriginal Community Controlled early childhood centre, Murawina, decades later. She has led several initiatives aimed at supporting Aboriginal communities and self-determination.

Helen Dalley Fisher, a human rights advocate and gender equality expert, has been recognised for her service to women, while Alistair Royse was acknowledged for his service as a cardiothoracic surgeon, researcher and educator.

Greta Bradman, opera singer and psychologist and granddaughter of Australia’s greatest cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman, has also been appointed for her service to the performing arts and in psychology.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

This year, 413 Australians were awarded an OAM, including Julie-Ann Finney, for service to the welfare of veterans. Finney led a push for a royal commission into defence and veteran suicides on behalf of her late son, David.

Former Socceroo Jimmy Rooney, a member of the first Australian team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup in 1974, was recognised for services to football.

Menaka Iyengar, who is the director of the Indian Crisis and Support Agency, is being recognised for her service to women and the community.

Brothers Gopinath and Ramnath Suryanarayanan Iyer, renowned exponents of Carnatic veena music, have been recognised for their service to the community through music. The duo has played a role in preserving and promoting the form of South Indian music for over 50 years.