| Recipient | Citation | Notes |
| The Honourable Alexander Downer | For eminent service to the Parliament of Australia through the advancement of international relations and foreign policy, particularly in the areas of security, trade and humanitarian aid, and to the community of South Australia | |
| For eminent service to the community through international leadership in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, the promotion of religious reconciliation, inclusion and peace, and as a theologian. | |
| Professor Brian Schmidt FRS | For eminent service as a global science leader in the field of physics through research in the study of astronomy and astrophysics, contributions to scientific bodies and the promotion of science education. | |
| The Honourable Tom Uren AO | For eminent service to the community, particularly through contributions to the welfare of veterans, improved medical education in Vietnam and the preservation of sites of heritage and environmental significance. | |
State/
Territory | Recipient | Citation |
| Australian Capital Territory | Pamela Ruth Davoren | For outstanding public service in the leadership of co-ordinated and integrated policy development and service delivery across the ACT Public Service. |
| Australian Capital Territory | Lois Mary Ford | For outstanding public service in the leadership of social justice for persons with a disability and the most fundamental shift in service reform and community attitude change in the Australian Capital Territory over the past 10 years. |
| Queensland | Paul John Brown | For outstanding public service to the Queensland Police Service. |
| Queensland | Guillermo Capati | For outstanding public service to the sustainable water future of the Gold Coast and broader South East Queensland region. |
| Queensland | Dr Mark Stewart Elcock | For outstanding public service in the development and delivery of integrated patient transport and retrieval services across Queensland. |
| Queensland | Kathryn Mary Frankland | For outstanding public service to the development and research of historical family records for Indigenous people of Queensland. |
| Queensland | Dr Neil Richard Wigg | For outstanding public service to paediatrics and child health in Australia. |
| New South Wales | Ralph Edward Bott | For outstanding public service through the planning and management of visits and events at the Sydney Opera House. |
| New South Wales | Dr Lee Clifford Bowling | For outstanding public service to water quality and management. |
| New South Wales | Kevin Cooper AFSM | For outstanding public service to agricultural technology and research. |
| New South Wales | Robert Geyer | For outstanding public service to agricultural technology and research. |
| New South Wales | Glynis Ann Ingram | For outstanding public service as the Regional Director for Community Services Western Region, New South Wales. |
| New South Wales | Patricia Mary Kelly | For outstanding public service as the General Manager, Human Resources, in the NSW Department of Education and Communities. |
| New South Wales | Ethel McAlpine | For outstanding public service to people with a disability in New South Wales. |
| New South Wales | Julie Anne Newman | For outstanding public service through the implementation of a range of organisational and financial reforms in New South Wales, and as a contributor to the establishment of the Safety, Return to Work and Support Division. |
| New South Wales | Ivan Novak | For outstanding public service to teaching in the hospitality industry. |
| New South Wales | Saravanamutthu Shanmugamany | For outstanding public service to Housing NSW. |
| New South Wales | John William Willing | For outstanding public service to education in western New South Wales. |
| Victoria | Wayne John Craig | For outstanding public service to education in the Northern Metropolitan Region of Victoria. |
| Victoria | Margaret Mary Dobson | For outstanding public service to the Primary School Nursing Program. |
| Victoria | Malcolm Allan Millar | For outstanding public service to the Primary School Nursing Program. |
| Victoria | Dr Clive Leslie Noble | For outstanding public service and leadership in science policy, innovation, collaboration and governance at state and national levels. |
| Victoria | Lenard Alan Norman | For outstanding public service within Corrections Victoria. |
| Western Australia | Allen Ronald Cooper | For outstanding public service to the Shire of East Pilbara. |
| Western Australia | Geraldine Monica Ennis | For outstanding public service in the provision of health services in rural and remote regions of Western Australia. |
| Western Australia | Dr Andrew Geoffrey Robertson CSC | For outstanding public service as Director, Disaster Management and Preparedness within WA Health. |
| Western Australia | Mark Gregory Webb | For outstanding public service to the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority in Perth, Western Australia. |
| South Australia | Darren Robert Renshaw | For outstanding public service to the Repatriation General Hospital and to the wider veteran community. |
| South Australia | Valerie Ann Smyth | For outstanding public service in the area of health and emergency management. |
| South Australia | Lynne Symons | For outstanding public service in the area of public education in disadvantaged areas. |
| Tasmania | Peter Graeme Brownscombe, deceased | For outstanding public service to the Tasmanian community in several Government agencies, particularly for initiatives and innovation that have resulted in outcomes that have greatly benefited Tasmania and its economy. |
| Tasmania | Geoffrey Stephen Coles | For outstanding public service to the management of conservation outcomes, land management and visitor experiences across national parks and other reserved lands in Tasmania. |
| Northern Territory | Patricia Gweneth Angus | For outstanding public service to health and housing policy, and programs and services to indigenous people in the Northern Territory. |
| Northern Territory | Jennifer Gail Prince | For outstanding public service and leadership, particularly as Under Treasurer for the Northern Territory. |
| Branch | Recipient |
| New South Wales Emergency Services | Russell Ian Ashdown |
| New South Wales Emergency Services | Jon Glenn Gregory |
| New South Wales Emergency Services | James Angus McTavish CSC |
| Victoria Emergency Services | Timothy James Wiebusch |
| Queensland Emergency Services | Christopher Ernest Arnott |
| Queensland Emergency Services | Kevin James Donnelly |
| Queensland Emergency Services | Adrianus Fransiscus Van Den Ende OAM |
| South Australia Emergency Services | Trevor John Bond |
| Tasmanian Emergency Services | Donald George Mackrill AFSM, OAM |
| Tasmanian Emergency Services | Mark David Nelson |
| Tasmanian Emergency Services | Bevis Charles Perkins |
| Northern Territory Emergency Services | Mark Richard Fishlock CSM |
| Branch | Recipient | Citation |
| Army | Major A. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Captain A. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Corporal A. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Major Anthony Raymond Bennett | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action as the Officer Commanding A Company, Mentoring Task Force 3 on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan from June to November 2011. |
| Army | Major E. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Corporal P. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Captain R. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Major S. | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations and in action. |
| Army | Colonel David John Smith AM | For distinguished leadership in warlike operations as the Deputy Commander, Combined Team Uruzgan on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan from May 2011 to January 2012. |
| Branch | Recipient | Citation |
| Navy | Captain Simon Giuseppe Ottaviano | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as Chief of Staff Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 on Operation SLIPPER from July 2011 to January 2012. |
| Navy | Commander Andrew Paul Quinn | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as the Commanding Officer, HMAS Toowoomba on Operation SLIPPER from June to October 2011. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel B. | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations. |
| Army | Major Andrew Baker | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as Commander, Brigade Headquarters Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, Mentoring Task Force 3 on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan. |
| Army | Major Andrew Thomas Cullen | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Troop Commander, Combined Team Uruzgan on Operation SLIPPER from May 2011 to February 2012. |
| Army | Private Phillip Alan Durham | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations and in action as a rifleman with A Company, Mentoring Task Force 3 on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan from June 2011 to January 2012. |
| Army | Major General Michael George Krause | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as the Deputy Chief of Staff - Plans, Headquarters international Joint Command, International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan from March 2011 to February 2012. |
| Army | Major Benjamin Gerard McLennan | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as the Operations Officer, Mentoring Task Force 3 on Operation SLIPPER from June to November 2011. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Gerard Miles | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as the Principle Staff Officer Operations, Headquarters Joint Task Force 633, and as Acting Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Combined Team Uruzgan on Operation SLIPPER. |
| Army | Corporal Daniel Brett Miller | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations as a corporal mentor, Mentoring Task Force 3 on Operation SLIPPER in Afghanistan from June 2011 to January 2012. |
| Army | Major R. | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations. |
| Army | Captain T. | For distinguished performance of duty in warlike operations and in action. |
| Branch | Recipient | Citation |
| Navy | Commander Mitchell Robert Livingstone | For outstanding achievement while Commanding Officer HMAS Pirie engaged in the rescue of survivors from a foundered vessel at Christmas Island on 15 December 2010. |
| Navy | Captain Christine Ann Clarke | For outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of HMAS Kuttabul. |
| Navy | Commander Paul James Moggach | For outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as the Commanding Officer of 817 Squadron from August 2009 until decommissioning of the Squadron in December 2011. |
| Navy | Commander Timothy James Standen | For outstanding achievement as the Fleet Aviation Engineer Officer |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Ana Laura Duncan | For outstanding achievement as the Senior Career Adviser in the Directorate of Officer Career Management - Army. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Arun Lambert | For outstanding achievement as the Director of Legal Review, Office of the Inspector General Australian Defence Force - Canberra. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Jenelle Margaret Lawson | For outstanding achievement as Staff Officer Plans, Headquarters Defence Force Recruiting for the innovation, development and successful implementation of the Defence Technical Scholarship program during the period from 2007 to 2011. |
| Army | Colonel John Brendan McLean | For outstanding achievement as Commanding Officer, 16th Air Defence Regiment. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Saad Imad Omari DSC | For outstanding achievement as Staff Officer Grade One Plans and Staff Officer Grade One Force Preparation in Headquarters 1st Division. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Bradley Scott Robertson | For outstanding achievement as a logistics Staff Officer within the Directorate of Logistics - Army. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Stewart Thomson | For outstanding achievement as a Project Director, Defence Support Group - Capital Facilities and Infrastructure Branch. |
| Air Force | Wing Commander David Charles Abraham | For outstanding achievement in F-111 weapon system logistic support |
| Air Force | Group Captain Peter Robert Davies | For outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of Number 1 Radar Surveillance Unit. |
| Air Force | Group Captain Jennifer Karen Lumsden | For outstanding achievement as Chief of Staff, Director General Health Reserves - Air Force and in developing the Military Critical Care Aeromedical Evacuation Capability. |
| Air Force | Wing Commander Paul Raymond Parolo | For outstanding achievement in the field of Aerospace Engineering in the Royal Australian Air Force. |
| Air Force | Sergeant Andrew Gordon Wade | For outstanding achievement as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of Engine Cell at Number 37 Squadron. |
| Branch | Recipient | Citation |
| Navy | Commander Rodney John Griffiths | For meritorious achievement as Assistant Defence Attaché, Australian Defence Staff, Jakarta. |
| Navy | Leading Seaman Deakon James Lewis | For meritorious devotion to duty as a Leading Seaman Combat Systems Operator and Tactical Data Link manager in HMAS Sydney |
| Navy | Petty Officer Jay Pettifer | For meritorious achievement and contribution to the Royal Australian Navy by implementing complex security improvements within Garden Island Defence Precinct. |
| Navy | Warrant Officer Michael John Quinlan | For meritorious achievement as the Submarine Escape Training Facility Training Officer at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia. |
| Navy | Petty Officer Luanne Rebecca Rule | For meritorious devotion to duty as the Petty Officer Naval Police Coxswain in the Royal Australian Navy's Recruit School. |
| Navy | Warrant Officer William James Welman | For meritorious achievement as the Communications Information Systems Category Manager in the Directorate of Navy Category Management. |
| Army | Major Paul John Bellas | For meritorious achievement as the Chinook Logistics Manager in driving significant reform resulting in increased Chinook capability output and reduced ownership costs to Defence. |
| Army | Major Steven James Bennett | For meritorious achievement as Staff Officer Grade Two - Information and Communications Technology Projects and Plans, Headquarters Forces Command. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Scott Rodney Bradford | For meritorious achievement as Staff Officer Grade One Training in Headquarters 2nd Division. |
| Army | Major r Michael John Buchanan | For meritorious achievement as the Officer Commanding Reinforcement Company, Mentoring Task Force 3 from February 2011 to January 2012. |
| Army | Corporal D. | For meritorious achievement as the technical operations subject matter expert in support of the Australian Defence Forces Special Operations capability. |
| Army | Corporal Adam Eagle | For meritorious devotion to duty as a Geomatic Technician providing engineering survey support to the Australian Army. |
| Army | Sergeant Bradley Norman Foster | For meritorious achievement as acting Company Sergeant Major of C Company and acting Second in Command of Support Company, the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. |
| Army | Warrant Officer Class One Michael Kenneth Harman | For meritorious achievement as the Technical Quartermaster Sergeant of the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment. |
| Army | Major Lloyd Alexander Jensen | For meritorious achievement as the Quartermaster and Battery Commander Combat Service Support Battery, 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery in 2011. |
| Army | Warrant Officer Class Two Kevin John Kennedy | For meritorious devotion to duty as the Warrant Officer Strategic Reporting, Army Headquarters. |
| Army | Warrant Officer Class Two M. | For meritorious achievement in the field of Australian Army counterinsurgency doctrine and education. |
| Army | Lieutenant Colonel Bevan Hugh McDonald | For outstanding service as the Staff Officer Grade One Capability, Headquarters Joint Operations Command in pioneering and leading the operational User Requirements process. |
| Army | Corporal Lee Andrew Newham | For meritorious achievement as a section commander of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. |
| Army | Captain O. | For meritorious achievement as the Regimental Personnel and Administrative Officer. |
| Army | Warrant Officer Class One Christopher Robin Tuddenham | For meritorious devotion to duty as the Communications Systems Engineer at Headquarters Joint Operations Command. |
| Army | Major Lisa Therese Weston | For meritorious devotion to duty as the Officer Commanding ECHO Squadron at the Australian Defence Force Academy. |
| Army | Warrant Officer Class Two Damien Alexander Woolfe | For meritorious achievement as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrant Officer at the Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School. |
| Air Force | Squadron Leader Daniel Joseph Grealy | For meritorious achievement as the Executive Officer at Number 1 Squadron. |
| Air Force | Group Captain Ross Keith Jones | For meritorious achievement as the Commanding Officer at Number 1 Recruit Training Unit. |
| Air Force | Warrant Officer Edward Peter O'Farrell | For meritorious achievement as the Warrant Officer in Charge of the Assisted Learning Centre at the Royal Australian Air Force School of Technical Training. |
| Air Force | Squadron Leader Sheena Lee Oldridge | For meritorious achievement as the Emerging Projects Development Engineer in Guided Weapons Branch, Explosive Ordnance Division. |
| Air Force | Warrant Officer Jason Robin Stone | For meritorious achievement as the Warrant Officer Engineering at Number 1 Squadron. |