The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force

Australian Defence Force

The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...

 personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service. It was established on 20 March 2006, however it recognises qualifying efficient service of current and former Australian Defence Force Regular and Reserve personnel, including National Servicemen

Conscription in Australia

Conscription in Australia, or mandatory military service also known as National Service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood...

, who have served since 3 September 1945. It is estimated that up to one million current and ex-serving personnel are eligible for the award. At 30 June 2010, a total of 242,576 have been awarded.

The criteria also include those who could not serve the four-year qualifying period or complete an initial enlistment period for one or more of the following reasons:

• the death of a member during service.
• the discharge of the member as medically unfit due to compensable impairment.
• the discharge of the member due to a prevailing discriminatory Defence policy, as determined by the Chief of the Defence Force
  Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)
  Chief of the Defence Force is the most senior appointment in the Australian Defence Force . The CDF commands the ADF under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in a coequal arrangement with the Secretary of Defence, the most senior public servant in the Department of Defence.The position is a...
  
  .

Description

• The Australian Defence Medal is a circular medal of cupro-nickel. The obverse features a stylised version of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms
  Coat of arms of Australia
  The coat of arms of Australia is the official symbol of Australia. The initial coat of arms was granted by King Edward VII on 7 May 1908, and the current version was granted by King George V on 19 September 1912, although the 1908 version continued to be used in some contexts, notably appearing on...
  
   (as used on the Australia Service Medal 1939–45) with a sprig of wattle
  Golden Wattle
  Acacia pycnantha is Australia's floral emblem. It is a tree which flowers in late winter and spring, producing a mass of fragrant, fluffy, golden flowers.-Description:...
  
   with the top outer edge inscribed with the words ‘The Australian Defence Medal’.
• The reverse has the words ‘For Service’ below the Crown of St Edward
  St. Edward's Crown
  St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
  
  , surrounded by a wreath of wattle. The use of the wreath acknowledges the sacrifice of those who have died in service or been discharged due to injury resulting from service, a secondary qualification for the medal
• The ribbon colours include the black and red colour of the Flanders poppy and two white stripes to divide the red into three segments to denote the three services of the Australian Defence Force
  Australian Defence Force
  The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
  
  , and also represent the services contributing to the peace of Australia.