The actions of more than 50 brave Australians and six groups of people have been recognised with awarding of this year's bravery awards.
Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove will present the Australian Bravery Decorations to men and women from around the country in recognition of their selfless deeds.
Sydney man Paul Rossington has been honoured with a bravery medal, nearly three years after his life ended with a leap for love off a cruise ship.
The 30-year-old paramedic has been awarded the medal for his life-ending jump off the fifth-storey of the Carnival Spirit in a desperate attempt to save his girlfriend, who fell overboard moments earlier.
The accident happened on the evening of May 8, 2013, 120 kilometres off NSW.
Supplied undated image of Paul Rossington, 30, and Kristen Schroder, 27 Source: AAP
Paul's mother Christeen Rossington says her son died caring for those around him, and his family proud his final brave, selfless act is being recognised.
Shark attack rescue
Surfer Nicholas Thompson has been awarded a Star of Courage for helping rescue his friend after a shark attack off South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
He defied instinct and swam towards the great white after it ripped off his mate Christopher Blowes's leg.
Just when he thought the attack was over, the shark dragged Mr Blowes under water again and Mr Thompson screamed for help.
Mr Thompson will today be honoured for spearheading the rescue in Fishery Bay near Port Lincoln on Anzac Day last year.
Governor General Cosgrove has thanked the award recipients for the brave efforts.
"On behalf of all Australians, I thank them for their bravery," he said.
"They are a source of courage, support and inspiration and we are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them."
Bravery award winners:
Star of Courage
(For acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril)
Mr Nicholas William Thompson, South Australia
Bar to the Bravery Medal
(For acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances)
Mr David Key BM, Victoria
Bravery Medal
(For acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances)
Miss Katie Abbott, NSW
Mr Sandro Luigi Agnoletto, Victoria
Mr Luke William Ashman, South Australia
Mr Lucas Baldwin, Victoria
Mr Ricky Lee Bromfield, Western Australia
Mr Michael William Curran, Queensland
Mr Lucas John Dowson, Victoria
Mr Mark Patrick Hickey, NSW
Constable Guy Roland Lalor, Queensland Police
Senior Sergeant Jeffrey Warren Lansdown, Queensland Police
Mr Brock Lawrence, NSW
Mr Christopher James Lofdahl, South Australia
Mr Christopher John Meacham, Victoria
The late Leading Seaman Bradley John Meek, NSW
Mr David Edward Mills, Queensland
Mr Charles Allan Mitchell, NSW
Mr Ronald Albert Morasso, NSW
Mr Bradley William Morrison, Queensland
Ms Lisa Dianne Morrow, ACT
Mr George Keith Picone, Victoria
Sergeant Michael John Prickett, Queensland Police
Mr Christian Anthony Pyke, South Australia
The late Mr Paul Richard Rossington, NSW
Sergeant Conrad Wayne van Egmond, Queensland Police
Commendation for Brave Conduct
(For acts of bravery considered worthy of recognition)
Mr Nicholas Edward Barnett, NSW
Miss Jade-Elle Piper Brown, Queensland
Mr Declan Jesse Burnett, Victoria
Mr Daniel David Cannon, WA
Miss Sarah Elizabeth Day, Northern Territory
Senior Constable Michael Dietrich, New South Wales Police
Miss Rachel Elise Ehlbeck, NSW
Mr Neil Phillip Farnsworth, Victoria
Mr Jordan John Headrick, Queensland
Mr Steven David Hird, Queensland
Mrs Desleigh Lorraine Jones, Queensland
Senior Constable Patrick Edward Larkins, South Australia Police
Mr Peter James Lee, South Australia
Mr John Matthew McCarthy, Queensland
Mr Neil Andrew Maher, ACT
Dr David Mills, Queensland
Mr Frank Nesci, Victoria
Ms Genene Marie O'Neill, Queensland
Miss Chevon Stephanie Parker, NSW
Mr Stephen Pinczi, NSW
Mr Ma'afu-Leka Okusitino Ratahi, NSW
Mr Edward Daniel Reece, AUstralian High Commission, Suva, Fiji
Mr Stephen Rex Richards, Queensland
Mr Glenn Michael Schwarz, South Australia
Mr Anthony Paul Seres, Queensland
Mr Tyrone Shaquille Taukamo, NSW
Mr David Joseph Wood, NSW
Group Bravery Citation
(For a collective act of bravery, by a group of persons in extraordinary circumstances, that is considered worthy of recognition)
- Awardees are members of Fire and Rescue New South Wales who attended a major fuel leak at the Caltex fuel terminal in Banksmeadow, New South Wales on 12 July, 2013.
Mr Jon Edward Andrews, NSW
Mr Mark Patrick Blackmore, NSW
Mr Kevin Wayne Blissett, NSW
Mr Dominic Francis Burke, NSW
Mr Nicholas Clarke, NSW
Mr Brendan Craig Ebejer, NSW
Mr Donald William Giles, NSW
Mr Ryan Bradley Hartup, NSW
Mr Rodney David Jackson, NSW
Mr Stephen Anthony McFadyen, NSW
Mr Mark Phillip Maguire, NSW
Mr Brett Edward Martin, NSW
Mr Maxwell Raymond Metzker, NSW
Mr Ronald Albert Morasso, NSW
Mr Scott Stewart Rainnie, NSW
Mr Glenn Andrew Sprod, NSW
Mr Erik Christian Sullivan, NSW
Mr Russell Geoffrey Vance, NSW
Mr Eddie Vaysbakh, NSW
Mr Craig Andrew Wearne, NSW
- Awardees are members of the public who went to the rescue of four people following a boat explosion at Pier 35 South Wharf, Victoria on 3 May, 2008.
Mr John Ker Campbell, VIctoria
Mr Michael James Cullinane, Victoria
Mr Anthony Lloyd Edwards, Victoria
Mr James Alexander Keeran, Victoria
Mr Toby Gordon Matthews, Victoria
Mr Garry Joseph Patrick, Georgia, US
Mr Nicholas Arthur Power, Western Australia
Mrs Naomi Sher, Victoria
- Awardees are members of the public who chased and apprehended an armed offender at Kenmore, Queensland on 17 January, 2015.
Mr Jason Benjamin Cox, Queensland
Mr Jordan John Headrick, Queensland
Mr Salvatore Legione, Queensland
- Awardees are members of New South Wales Police who apprehended a man armed with a crossbow at Rocky River, New South Wales on 15 April, 2012.
Sergeant Carter Stirling Knyvett, New South Wales Police
Sergeant Karen Louise Peasley, New South Wales Police
- Awardees are members of Queensland Police who went to the rescue of three people trapped inside an upturned vehicle at Brighton, Queensland on 30 December, 2012.
Constable Guy Roland Lalor, Queensland Police
Senior Sergeant Jeffrey Warren Lansdown, Queensland Police
Senior Constable Russell Allen Mounfield, Queensland Police
Senior Constable Kim Matthew Wilson, Queensland Police
- Awardees are crew members from Police Air Wing Air 490 who went to the rescue of four people during the Black Saturday bushfire at Kinglake West, Victoria on 7 February, 2009.
Mr David Key BM, Victoria
Leading Senior Constable Bryan Anthony Norman, Victoria Police
Constable Warrick Geoffrey Young, Victoria Police
