[2] It depicts a shield, containing symbols of Australia's six states, and is held up by native Australian animals, the kangaroo and the emu.

[3] The seven-pointed Commonwealth Star surmounting the crest also represents the states and territories, while golden wattle, the national floral emblem, appears below the shield.

The escutcheon (central shield) is the focal point of the coat of arms, and contains six quarters, each containing a representation of the badge of an Australian state.

The public authority represented by the arms symbolises the intangible, but limited, public authority of the Commonwealth and its vesting in a sort of mystical fusion of people, crown and constitution.In the top half, from left to right, the states represented are New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

[7] In the background is a wreath of golden wattle, the official national floral emblem, though the representation of the species is not botanically accurate.

The blazon is as follows:[1] Quarterly of six, the first quarter Argent a Cross Gules charged with a Lion passant guardant between on each limb a Mullet of eight points Or; the second Azure five Mullets, one of eight, two of seven, one of six and one of five points of the first (representing the Constellation of the Southern Cross) ensigned with an Imperial Crown proper; the third of the first a Maltese Cross of the fourth, surmounted by a like Imperial Crown; the fourth of the third, on a Perch wreathed Vert and Gules an Australian Piping Shrike displayed also proper; the fifth also Or a Swan naiant to the sinister Sable; the last of the first, a Lion passant of the second, the whole within a Bordure Ermine; for the Crest on a Wreath Or and Azure A Seven-pointed Star Or, and for Supporters dexter a Kangaroo, sinister an Emu, both proper.The following is the blazon for the 1908 coat of arms:[9] Azure on an Inescutcheon Argent upon a Cross of St. George cottised of the field five six pointed Stars of the second (representing the Constellation of the Southern Cross) all within an Orle of Inescutcheons of the second, each charged with a Chevron Gules, And for the Crest on the wreath of the Colours A seven pointed star Or—And for supporters On a compartment of grass to the dexter, a Kangaroo, to the sinster an Emu both proper, together with the motto "Advance Australia".By the 1820s, an unofficial coat of arms consisting of a shield depicting four symbols of commerce (a golden fleece, ship, anchor and wheat), supported by a kangaroo and emu with the motto "Advance Australia" was widely used across the eastern colonies of Australia.

Supported by the Victorian Scottish Union and the St Andrew Society, there were calls for the arms to be completely redesigned to either include symbols of all the British nationalities or instead use only Australian symbology.

The member of Parliament for Wentworth, Willie Kelly, said:[14] The emu and kangaroo are so built that they hardly fit into the heraldic atmosphere, and I think we make ourselves ridiculous when we endeavour to carry on the traditions of the Old World with some of the wild creations of our Australian fauna.Despite objections, the kangaroo and emu now not having its leg up remained the shield bearers in the new coat of arms and were modified to appear more realistic.

[4] The new coat of arms removed the bed of grass beneath the shield and changed the scroll to read simply "Australia".

While not wishing to change the major elements, the government "was anxious" to add a crown and remove the golden wattle (for ease of reproduction).

[17] In 1955 a committee recommended a design by Mayo be adopted, which included a crown and an Aboriginal shield, but ultimately no changes were made.

The Arms are used by Australian Government departments and agencies, statutory and non-statutory authorities, the Parliament and Commonwealth courts and tribunals.

[19] Use of the arms by private citizens or organisations is rarely permitted; however, there are provisions for use by sporting bodies and in educational publications.