Please note the salutation guidelines below are generic in relation to using gendered titles such as “Mr/Ms/Mrs”. We recommend the use of salutations as per the relevant official’s preference, if specified.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) remains committed to diversity, inclusion and equity. More information on the LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Plan 2019-2021.
How to address members of the British royal family and their representatives
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| The King | His Majesty The King | Open correspondence with 'Sir' and close with 'I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Majesty's humble and obedient servant'. | On presentation 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Royal Duke | His Royal Highness The Duke of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Prince | His Royal Highness Prince [first name] of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Princess | Her Royal Highness Princess [first name] of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| A Royal Duchess | Her Royal Highness The Duchess of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| A Royal Earl | His Royal Highness The Prince [first name], Earl of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Royal Countess | Her Royal Highness The Countess of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| Governor-General | His Excellency the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia | Your Excellency | First and last meeting each day 'Your Excellency' otherwise 'Governor-General' or 'Sir' |
| Governor of State | Her Excellency, the Honourable [full name], Governor of Victoria | Your Excellency | Governor or Ma'am/Sir |
| Spouse of State Governor | Mr/Mrs/Ms [full name] or check the Governor of Victoria's website | Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms | Mr/Mrs/Ms or check the Governor of Victoria's website |
| Administrator of a Territory | His/Her Honour the Honourable [full name], Administrator of the Northern Territory | Your Honour | When you speak for the first time Your Honour, followed by Sir/Ma'am |
| Spouse of an Administrator of a Territory | Mr/Mrs/Ms or check the NT Administrator's website | Mr/Mrs/Ms or check the NT Administrator's website | Mr/Mrs/Ms or check the NT Administrator's website |
How to address members of the British and Australian nobility
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | The Duke of … | My Lord Duke | Your Grace |
| Duchess | The Duchess of … | Dear Duchess | Your Grace |
| Marquess | The Marquess of … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Marchioness | The Marchioness of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Earl | The Earl of … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Countess | The Countess of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Viscount | The Viscount … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Viscountess | The Viscountess of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Baron | Lord … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Baroness | Lady … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Baronet | Sir [first name] [last name] | Dear Sir [first name] | Sir [first name] or Sir |
| Wife of Baronet | Lady [last name] | Dear Lady [last name] | Lady [last name] |
| Knight | Sir [first name] [last name] | Dear Sir [first name] | Sir [first name] or Sir |
| Wife of Knight | Lady [last name] | Dear Lady [last name] | Lady [last name] |
| Dame | Dame [first name] [last name] | Dear Dame [first name] | Dame [first name] or Ma’am |
How to address government officials
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | The Honourable [first name] [last name], Prime Minister of [country] | For full range of correspondence options, see the Parliament of Australia website | Prime Minister or Mr/Mrs/Ms [surname] |
| Premier of State | The Honourable [full name], Premier of [state] | Dear Premier | Premier or Mr/Mrs/Ms [surname] |
| Members of the Parliament of Australia | Changes depending on House, Senate, or portfolio. See the Parliament of Australia website | Minister or Senator, depending on the house of government. See the Parliament of Australia website | Senator, Minister, or Mr/Mrs/Ms, depending on the house. See the Parliament of Australia website |
| Members of the State Parliament of Victoria | If a current or former Minister: The Honourable … Others Mr/Mrs/Ms | Minister or see the Parliament of Victoria Website | If a current Minister Minister [surname] or Mr/Mrs/Ms |
| High Court Judge | The Honourable [last name] | See the High Court website | See the High Court website |
| Supreme Court Judge | The Honourable Justice [last name] | Dear Justice | In court Your Honour Outside court Justice [last name] |
| Judge of the County Court | His/Her Honour Judge [last name] | Dear Judge [last name] | In court Your Honour Outside court Judge [last name] |
| Lord Mayor | The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of [city], [full name] | Dear Lord Mayor | Lord Mayor |
| Partner of Lord Mayor | Mr/Mrs/Ms [full name] | Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms | Mr/Mrs/Ms [full name] |
| Mayor | The Mayor of … | Dear Mayor [last name] or Mr/Mrs/Ms [last name] | Mayor or Mr/Mrs/Ms Mayor [last name] or Sir/Ma'am |
| Partner of Mayor | Dear [full name] | Dear [last name] | Mr/Mrs/Ms [last name] |
| Municipal Councillor | Councillor [last name] | Dear Councillor | Councillor [last name] or Mr/Mrs/Ms [last name] |
How to address diplomatic and consular corps
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador | His/Her Excellency the Ambassador of … | Your Excellency | Your Excellency, Sir/Madam Ambassador or Mr/Mrs/Ms |
| High Commissioner | His/Her Excellency the High Commissioner for … | Your Excellency | Your Excellency, Sir/Madam High Commissioner or Mr/Mrs/Ms |
| Career Consuls-General | The Consul-General of … | Dear Consul-General | Consul-General or Sir/Mrs/Ms |
| Honorary Consuls-General | The Consul-General of … | Dear Consul-General | Consul-General or Sir/Mrs/Ms |
| Career Consuls | The Consul of … | Dear Consul | Consul or Sir/Mrs/Ms |
| Honorary Consuls | The Consul of … | Dear Consul | Consul or Sir/Mrs/Ms |
How to address religious leaders
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop (Church of England) | The Most Reverend the Archbishop of Melbourne | Dear Archbishop | Your Grace |
| Archbishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend the Archbishop of Melbourne | My Lord Archbishop | Your Grace |
| Bishop (Church of England) | The Right Reverend the Bishop of… | Dear Bishop | Bishop or Bishop [first name] |
| Bishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend… | My Lord | My Lord |
| Dean (Church of England) | The Very Reverend the Dean of [name of church] | Dear Dean | Dean [first name] or Dean |
| Bishop (Lutheran) | Bishop of [name of church] | Dear Bishop [first name last name] | Bishop or Bishop [first name] |
| Pastor (Lutheran) | Pastor of [name of church] | Pastor [first name last name] | Pastor or Pastor [first name] |
| Grand Mufti of Australia (Islam) | Grand Mufti | Dear Grand Mufti [first name] | Grand Mufti or Grand Mufti [first name] |
| Imam (Islam) | Imam | Dear Imam [first name] | Imam or Imam [first name] |
| Sheikh (Islam) | Sheikh | Dear Sheikh [first name] | Sheikh [first name] |
| Dean (Russian Orthodox) | Very Reverend Father | Dear Dean | Father or Father [first name] |
| Rabbi (Judaism) | Rabbi [first name last name] | Dear Rabbi [last name] | Rabbi |
| Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth (Judaism) | Chief Rabbi [first name last name] | Dear Chief Rabbi [last name] | Rabbi |
| Senior Rabbi (Judaism) | Senior Rabbi [first name last name] | Dear Rabbi [last name] | Rabbi |
| Senior Monk or Nun (Buddhist) | Most Venerable [first name last name] | Dear Most Venerable [first name last name] | Most Venerable or Most Venerable [first name last name] |
| Monk or Nun (Buddhist) | Venerable [first name last name] | Dear Venerable [first name last name] | Venerable [first name last name] |
| Dalai Lama (Tibetan) | His Holiness | His Holiness | Your Holiness |
| Patriach (Orthodox) | His Holiness or His Holiness Patriarch | Dear Patriarch or His Holiness | Your Holiness |
| Archbishop (Orthodox) | His Beatitude or His Eminence Archbishop | Dear Archbishop | Your Beautitude or Your Eminence |
| Bishop (Orthodox) | His Grace Bishop | Dear the Right Reverend or Bishop | Your Grace |
| Metropolitan (Orthodox) | His Eminence Metropolitan | Dear the Most Blessed | Your Eminence |
| Archimandrite (Orthodox) | The Very Reverend Father | Dear Very Reverend/Father | Father |
| Senior Priest (Orthodox) | The Very Reverend | Dear Reverend/Father | Father |
| Priest (Orthodox) | The Reverend Father | Dear Father | Father |
| Deacon (Orthodox) | The Reverend Father | Dear Father | Father |
| Chaplin (Hindu) | Hindu Saiva Chaplin | Dear Hindu Saiva Chaplin [last name] | Reverend Hindu Saiva Chaplin |
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