Distinguished Service Medal (Australia)

The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in warlike operations. The DSM was introduced in 1991 and is the second highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSM". Since its inception 152 awards have been made—which includes six Bars—with the most recent being announced in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.

For other uses, see Distinguished Service Medal (disambiguation).

Distinguished Service Medal


Obverse of medal and ribbon
TypeMedal
Awarded forDistinguished leadership in warlike operations.
Presented byAustralia
EligibilityMembers of the Australian Defence Force
Post-nominalsDSM
StatusCurrently awarded
Established15 January 1991
First awarded1993
Last awarded2023 King's Birthday Honours
Total220[1]
Total awarded posthumously1
Total recipients208
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Bravery Medal
Next (lower)Public Service Medal
RelatedDistinguished Service Cross
Commendation for Distinguished Service

Government allowance

The Government of Australia may grant an allowance to veterans or serving members of the Australian Defence Force who have been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, or other awards for gallantry. At November 2007, this allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.[2]

Description
  • The Distinguished Service Medal is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward in nickel-silver. The obverse has a Federation star superimposed on a circle of flames.
  • The medal has a nickel-silver suspender bar.
  • The medal ribbon has alternating vertical stripes: four silver-blue and three ochre-red.

See also

References
  1. Medal Yearbook 2023. Honiton, Devon: Token. 2022. p. 462. ISBN 978-1-908828-63-7.
  2. "Veteran's Entitlements Act 1986 – Sect 102". Commonwealth Consolidated Acts. Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
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