[3] It is awarded to personnel who complete 15 years of Regular or Reserve service, or combinations thereof, on or after 14 February 1975.

The first four clasps to the medal are indicated by rosettes on the ribbon.

These are replaced by a single silver Federation Star for the fifth clasp.

Additional Federation Star emblems are added for subsequent clasps.

[3] According to the Australian Department of Defence, the medal is described as:[3] Other Australian long service awards include: While the Australian Defence Medal is sometimes classified as a "long service medal", it is intended to recognise all those who completed an obligation to serve their country (whether voluntarily or conscripted), and is not awarded for "long service" per se.