Applying for Awards

Applying for an award

Through the Australian system of honours and awards the community can recognise the gallantry, bravery, achievement and service of Australians.

Recipients are considered for awards following their nomination by another individual or group or following their own application or an application on their behalf.

This section provides information on honours and awards that are based on applications by the recipient or a recommendation on their behalf. This website has a separate section on awards that are based on nominations.

Honours and awards that eligible people may apply for are:

Australian service and campaign medals are awarded to defence force and police personnel by their respective organisations for operational service. Application processes may be instituted for retrospective award of medals.

Approval to accept and wear foreign awards offered to Australian Defence Force members during the Vietnam War by the following governments can be sought by completing an application form and supplying acceptable documentary evidence of the offer.

  • United States of America
  • Former government of South Vietnam
  • Former government of Cambodia

Long service awards for defence, police, other uniformed personnel and voluntary organisations involved in hazardous occupations, are awarded after a qualifying period of service. Application processes are handled internally by the relevant organisation.

Awards made to defence personnel on recommendation following a competition:

Honours and awards that are based on applications by the recipient or a recommendation on their behalf but are no longer available are:

How to apply

Applications for the majority of awards and medals in the honours system are processed by either the Department of Defence or the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The Directorate of Honours and Awards at the Department of Defence is responsible for the administration of defence-related awards, including service and campaign medals and long service awards.

The Awards and Culture Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet administers the Centenary Medal, the Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal.

The Awards and Culture Branch also administers foreign medals awarded to Australian Defence Force personnel for the Vietnam conflict.

There is more information on this website in the A-Z section about all the awards and medals in the Australian honours system, including details on how the medals are awarded. There are also one-page fact sheets that can be downloaded and printed.

Who is eligible

Each award or medal has particular eligibility requirements. There is some information on this website which can be found by clicking on the award of interest in the section Applying for an award.

For further information on defence-related awards contact:

Directorate of Honours and Awards
T-1-49
Department of Defence
CANBERRA, ACT 2600

Website: http://www.defence.gov.au/medals/

Or phone the free-call number: 1800 111 321

For further information on eligibility requirements for the Centenary Medal, the Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal contact:

Awards and Culture Branch
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia

email: See the Contact Us section of this website

Application forms

Application forms for active or other service medals are available from the Directorate of Honours and Awards at the Department of Defence.

They can also be contacted at:

Directorate of Honours and Awards
T-1-49
Department of Defence
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Or phone the free-call number: 1800 111 321

Application forms for the Centenary Medal, Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal can be downloaded here.

  • Centenary Medal application form - PDF 275KB
  • Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 application form - WORD 83KB | PDF 152KB
  • Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 eligibility guide - WORD 93KB | PDF 104KB
  • Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal application form - WORD 147KB | PDF 244KB
  • Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal eligibility guide - WORD 74KB | PDF 47KB
  • Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal and Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975 Clasp (Vietnam) form - WORD 96KB | PDF 138KB
  • Foreign award application forms - USA, South Vietnam and Cambodia
  • National Medal - Please note there is no application form for the National Medal. Once a person has qualified they may approach their Chief Officer who has responsibility to make nominations to the Governor-General.
    For further information please refer to the National Medal factsheet.

Note: For more information on PDF files and their use see the PDF Help page on this site.

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Last Updated: 6 June, 2008