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