A special honours list has been approved to acknowledge acts of courage and service associated with the Bondi Beach terror attack, with nominations now progressing through the national honours framework.
Incident That Prompted The Honours List
The establishment of the honours list follows the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
In the aftermath of the incident, emergency personnel and members of the public acted in dangerous conditions to support others, with several individuals stepping forward to assist despite personal risk. These actions formed the basis for formal recognition under the honours system.
Purpose Of The Special Honours List
The honours list has been created to allow individuals to be formally considered for bravery or meritorious awards under the Australian Honours and Awards system, based on actions taken during and after the incident.
Australian Bravery Decorations apply to situations where individuals placed themselves in danger to protect others or property. The Order of Australia recognises Australians whose actions represent an outstanding contribution to the community at local, national or international levels.
Assessment And Nomination Process
Honours bodies responsible for administering bravery decorations and Order of Australia awards have begun considering existing nominations linked to the Bondi Beach incident.
The honours framework is nomination-driven and relies on submissions from the public. Community members who are aware of actions they believe warrant recognition are able to lodge nominations for formal consideration.
All nominations are reviewed before recommendations are made through the established honours process.
Community Response
Public reaction following the announcement has reflected broad support for recognising a wide range of actions taken during the incident. Attention has focused on both trained responders and civilians who assisted others while facing personal risk.
There has also been acknowledgement that numerous acts of courage occurred across the affected area, highlighting the collective nature of the response.
What Happens Next
The honours process is underway, with recipients expected to be announced in 2026. Nominations remain open while assessments continue.
Published 31-Dec-2025
