Defence Medals Application Form

• If you are applying on behalf of a deceased member, please see our guidance on Granting of Unissued Service Awards of Deceased Members
• If you are applying for replacement awards, please see our guidance on Replacement Medals.
• The Directorate of Honours and Awards (DH&A) cannot provide service records. To access service records, go to Accessing Service Records.
• To nominate someone for an honour or decoration, please use form AD104 Nomination for Half-Yearly Honours which can be accessed from the Defence WebForm system.

• Please use the web browser Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge to complete the application. Other web browsers may not support the application. 
• Please provide as much information as possible to assist with the application process. If you have electronic copies of evidence and information you wish to provide, please make note of this in the Supporting Information section and an Assessor will contact you to discuss this.
• You cannot save and continue an application if you exit before completion.
• You must agree to the Terms and Conditions (and provide consent to access your medical records in some instances).
• You can navigate between tabs using the 'Previous' and 'Next' buttons.
• Upon completion, your application will be forwarded to DH&A ready for assessment. Applications are assessed in order of receipt.
• You will receive an on-screen notification with a reference number for future use. (Note: no email will be sent to you).

• Permanent members with no breaks in service are not required to submit an application for the Australian Defence Medal or Defence Long Service Medal and Clasps as a PMKeyS Report will be generated at the start of each month. If the award does not appear on the Honours and Awards panel within PMKeyS within eight weeks of your service anniversary, please submit an online application.
• Permanent members with breaks in service are required to submit an application for the Australian Defence Medal and the Defence Long Service Medal and Clasps as the PMKeyS report does not recognise breaks in service.
  • A break in service includes periods of absence without leave, detention, custody, imprisonment imposed by a civil authority, whilst in civil custody, or suspension from duty imposed under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 or Defence Regulation 2016.
• Reserve members are required to submit an application for the Australian Defence Medal or Defence Long Service Medal and Clasps as the PMKeyS report does not recognise non-permanent service.
  • Please provide the delivery address you wish awards to be dispatched to. For Reservists, this will default to your home address, unless you advise otherwise.

• Complete the online Defence Medals Application Form and select Foreign Awards ADF or Foreign Awards Lateral Transfer as the Application Type.
• To be used by ADF personnel who have been issued a Foreign Service award or ADF personnel who joined the ADF from a foreign Defence Force.
• Documentary evidence of the award/s may be required. An assessor will contact you directly if needed.
• Please include details of the award, including dates and location of service.
• Defence guidance concerning wearing of foreign awards is available here

• DH&A requires time to research historical documents, seek approval from the delegate, and to engrave and dispatch awards. Defence strives to respond to applications within 6 months.
• 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 you have not received an outcome within 6 months, from the date you submitted your application, please do not re-submit. You can enquire about the status of your current application by calling 1800 DEFENCE.
• A timeframe for the Australian Operational Service Medal Border Protection cannot be given as the process is dependant on information supplied by each Service.

Defence provides an Alternate Application Process which applicants can utilise if they are unable to submit an application online. The Alternate Application Process is for applicants who:

• Do not have access to working internet
• Have visual impairments; or
• Require assistance to submit their applications

To access the Alternate Application Process, please call 1800 333 362 and a customer service representative will be able to assist you.

Please note applications are assessed in order of receipt.