The Defence Long Service Medal (DLSM) is awarded to a member who has, on or after 14 February 1975, completed 15 years qualifying remunerated service in the Australian Defence Force. This includes efficient service in Permanent and Reserve Forces. Clasps are awarded for each further periods of five years efficient service.
The regulations state that members are not entitled to have a Defence Force service award and the DLSM at the same time. The Defence Force service awards are:
Members wishing to have previously unrecognised service counted toward the DLSM are required to return the Defence Force service award before the DLSM is issued.
To be deemed efficient for Long Service Award purposes, members of the Reserves must fulfil their annual obligations. A member of the Reserve Force is required to render service throughout a year. A 'year' means the period of 12 months that commenced on the day on which the person became a member of the Reserve Forces or on any anniversary of that day.
As of 20 April 2000, all 3 services require a member of the Reserve Force to have completed 20 days of remunerated service per enlistment year. For enlistment periods prior to 20 April 2000, see the Defence Long Service Awards factsheet, under Source documents.
Design
The medal is cupronickel. The obverse has the Joint Service emblem surrounded by 2 sprays of wattle leaves and blossom.
The reverse has a central horizontal panel surrounded by the inscription For Service In The Australian Defence Force.
The ribbon has a central panel of seven alternating blue and gold stripes flanked by blue stripes gold edges. The colours and design reflect those of the replaced medals.
The clasp is a bar with the Royal Cypher flanked by sprigs of wattle in the centre. The Queen Elizabeth Cypher is awarded for service up to and including 5 May 2023. The King Charles Cypher is awarded for service on or after 6 May 2023.
When the ribbon is worn alone, a clasp is indicated by the addition of a round rosette or a Federation Star.
The first 4 clasps to the medal are indicated by rosettes. These are replaced by a single Federation Star for the fifth clasp. Additional Federation Star emblems are added for subsequent clasps.
Source documents
Letters Patent and amendments to Regulations (Gazette S352) 10 July 1998 (PDF, 138.7 KB)
Letters Patent and amendments to Regulations (Gazette S160) 30 March 2000 (PDF, 204.94 KB)
Letters Patent and amendments to Regulations (Gazette S2) 3 January 2002 (PDF, 151.31 KB)
CDF Determination (Annual Qualifying Service) of 24 March 2020 (PDF, 2.41 MB)
CDF Determination (Qualifying Service) of 13 April 2000 (PDF, 174.03 KB)
Defence Long Service Medal Determination 16 March 2021 (PDF, 141.47 KB)