The Defence Medal
Australia will recognise the service of more than one million current and former Defence Force personnel with the Australian Defence Medal (ADM), Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson, announced on 30 March 2006.
“Her Majesty the Queen has approved the official regulations and design for the award that aims to recognise current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) Regular and Reserve personnel, and volunteer and National Servicemen, who have served since the end of World War II,” Mr Billson said.
“The Australian Government is committed to recognising the outstanding contribution to our proud military history made by Australian men and women in uniform.
The National Service Medal
Australians who are conscripted into the National Service will be able to march tall next Anzac Day. After years of lobbying the Federal Government has agreed to award them a commemorative medal.
More than 300,000 young men were called into the military between 1951 and 1972. And the new medal, recognising their efforts, will be struck in time for the 50th anniversary of the policy which broke with the tradition of a volunteer Australian Defence Force.
National Service was originally introduced by the Menzies Government in 1951. By 1959 more than 200,000 eighteen-year-olds had been called up for basic training in the Army, Navy and Air Force.
In 1965 the scheme was revived for the Vietnam War with about 65,000 twenty-year-olds conscripted. Of them, 20,000 went on to serve in the war. But when the scheme was brought to a close in 1972, National Servicemen who didn't go to war, went without recognition.
Australia doesn't hand out medals lightly. Some countries, they almost put them in the cornflake packets. Australia says that you have to earn them. A spokesman said to the government, we feel that our service, done willingly and done well, earned recognition.
Application for both medals can be made through the following  email address.

                            www.defence.gov.au/medals/

The Defence and National Service Medals