Requests regarding Defence honours and awards can be submitted through the Awards application form. Applicants that are unable to submit an application online can contact Defence for further assistance.
Applicants using the online form must take note of the following advice.
- Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge are the recommended browsers to use when completing the online application form. Other web browsers may not support the application.
- Provide as much information as possible to assist with the application process.
- Make note of electronic copies of evidence and information that can be provided in the Supporting information section. An assessor will make contact to discuss this.
- Applications cannot be saved and continued if closed before it is submitted.
- Terms and conditions must be accepted and consent to access medical records may be required. Further information about the way Defence collects, stores, uses and discloses personal information is available on the Privacy Policy page.
- The 'Previous' and 'Next' buttons can be used to navigate between pages of the form.
- Upon completion, applications will be forwarded to Defence for assessment. Applications are assessed in order of receipt.
- Upon submission, an on-screen notification with a reference number will appear, and a confirmation email will be sent within a few minutes. Please record this reference number for future use.
A support guide is available to assist with using the online application form.
Defence awards online application form support guide (PDF, 1.31 MB)
Application types
Replacement medals
Information about eligibility and awards that can be replaced can be found on the Replacement medals page.
Full assessment
Members, ex-serving members and their families wishing to obtain a list of entitled awards, or apply for an award issued posthumously, can request it through the Awards application form.
Unissued service awards of deceased members
Granting of unissued service awards of deceased members is sometimes referred to as the ‘posthumous issue’. Immediate family of the deceased member that are entitled to unissued awards are listed in descending priority of entitlement below.
- spouse/de facto spouse
- child
- grandchild
- parent
- sibling.
Anyone who is not listed as an immediate family member can apply for special consideration for the granting of unissued awards. Applicants must provide a statement that fully describes their justification for the claim.
Examples of circumstances that might apply include:
- no member of the immediate family remains
- the applicant holds the deceased original medals by gift or bequest
- an institution such as an approved museum, an orphanage or school, may have been bequeathed or gifted the medals.
Australian Defence Medal and Defence long service awards
The application form can be used to apply for the Australian Defence Medal and Defence Long Service Medal and clasps.
Members with reserve service, breaks in service, or those who have changed from one service branch to another (Navy, Army Air Force), can use the online form to submit an application. Permanent members who have served in only one service branch without breaks in service are not required to use this form.
Foreign awards
Applications to wear Foreign Service awards on ADF uniform or lateral transfer can be made through the form.
Documentary evidence of the award/s may be required. Details of the award, including dates and location of service should be provided. An assessor will make contact directly if needed.
Further guidance is available on the Wearing awards page.
Medal engraving
All medals are engraved with the recipient's service number or Personnel Management Key Solutions (PMKeyS) number followed by the recipient’s initials and surname. If the qualifying service occurred prior to 22 February 2002, the medal is engraved with a service number instead of the PMKeys number.
The details engraved on a medal are determined by the information held on record at the time of assessment. Where an individual has legally changed their name since the date the medal was earned, the individual may request their current name be engraved on the medal prior to issue.
Timeframes
Processing takes time as it includes researching historical documents, seeking approval from the delegate, followed by engraving and dispatching of awards. Medals are dispatched through Australia Post by Parcel Post to the address provided within the application, except for current serving members. Medals are sent to current serving members' unit as shown on PMKeyS.
Applications for veterans who are 85 years of age or older will be actioned as a priority upon request. After submitting an application and receiving an acknowledgement, applicants may email honours.awards@defence.gov.au to have their application identified under this circumstance. Please include the first and last name, and date of birth of the veteran, and the application reference number received when the application was submitted.
If an outcome is not received within 6 months, applicants can contact Defence for an update. Further information on how to request replacement of awards that were approved and dispatched but not received can be found on the Replacement medals page.
A timeframe for the Australian Operational Service Medal Border Protection cannot be given as the process is dependent on information supplied by each service.