A Guide to Wearing Medals on Commemorative Occasions.
The RSL is committed to commemorating those who have served our nation and educating all Australians about the vital role the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has played, and continues to play, both domestically and internationally in shaping Australia.
Military service to your country is a proud achievement. The Australian Government awards medals and honours to signify service and contribution to the nation.
The RSL is often asked about the correct protocols for wearing Australian honours and awards (commonly referred to as medals), particularly by family members who would like to wear their relatives' medals in tribute. We hope this guide will support those who have earned medals and honours, and those who are wearing them in memory, to wear their medals proudly to honour our veterans and remember those who have served.
This article is intended to be a helpful resource, serving as a general guide, offering suggestions for standardising the wearing of medals on commemorative occasions. These guidelines relate to awards and honours earned in Australia. Other nations will have different guidelines.
This Guide Covers:
Wearing Family Medals
Wearing your medals, commendations, citations, and badges
Suitable occasions for wearing medals
Minature Medals
Wearing floral symbols – Rosemary and Poppies
Offences
Wearing Family Medals
It is a meaningful gesture to wear a family member’s medals to a commemorative event.
There are several key things to remember when wearing awards that are not yours:
Wear family medals on the right side to indicate you are not the original recipient.
You cannot wear relatives’ neck medals, unit citations, or association badges. These are personal to the individual who earned them.
It’s respectful to wear one medal rack at one time. This ensures that the focus remains on the individual's service, rather than a display of multiple family honours.
Please read the FAQs below to learn more.
A child proudly wearing his ancestor’s medals at the Anzac Day march in Camden, NSW. (Credit: Defence Image Gallery)
FAQs
What side do I wear my relative’s medals on?
Medals that were not awarded directly to the wearer are worn on the right side of the chest or jacket. This indicates that the wearer is not the original recipient. The right side is a place of honour for the service of a loved one.
Can relatives wear a veteran’s medals if they're still alive?
Yes, with the veteran’s permission, and as long as they are worn on the right side of the chest. Perhaps you are marching on Anzac Day for a family member who cannot. You may wear their medals on the right and march in their honour.
Can relatives wear replica medals while the veteran wears the original medals?
Yes, with the veteran’s permission, and as long as they are worn on the right side of the chest. The practice of wearing replica medals is a meaningful way for family members to show their respect and pride in a living veteran's service. Replicas are often worn by children or grandchildren and it allows the veteran to see their legacy being honoured by the next generation. Many veterans and their families commission a replica set for this very purpose.
RSL Ambassador, Pete Rudland’s son wearing miniature replicas of his father’s medals to honour his service.
Can relatives wear a deceased ancestor’s medal designed to be worn around the neck?
No. Medals worn around the neck like some of the Order of Australia medals (AC or AO) can't be worn by family members. These honours are personally bestowed upon an individual for their specific, distinguished service to the nation.
Can relatives wear an association badge?
No. Badges issued by organisations such as the RSL or other service associations signify current membership of that specific organisation and should only be worn by the member.
Can relatives wear unit citations?
No. The right to wear a Unit Citation is personal to the individual who was a member of the unit at the time of the honoured action. That right is not passed down to relatives.
Can I wear multiple Ancestor’s Medal Racks?
It is respectful to only wear one set of an ancestor's medals at one time. This ensures that the focus remains on the individual's service, rather than a display of multiple family honours. For example, if you are attending an Anzac Day service, you may choose to wear your grandfather's medals, but you should not wear your grandfather's medals and your great-uncle's medals simultaneously. You may want to alternate medal racks for different occasions.
Can I wear an ancestor's medals earned outside of Australia to commemorative events like Anzac Day?
Yes, you can wear your ancestor's medals earned in a military force outside of Australia, however, it is considered inappropriate to wear medals from a nation that was an enemy of Australia or the Commonwealth during a conflict.
What are the legal considerations for wearing medals that were not awarded to me?
The Defence Act 1903, Sections 80A and 80B, provides that it is a federal offence to misrepresent yourself as a serving or ex-service member of the Australian Defence Force or to wear a service decoration that was not conferred on you. By following the right-side rule for family medals, you are adhering to the protocol that respects the original recipient's service and avoids any legal or social implications of misrepresentation.
Wearing your Awards and Honours
Medals
Medals earned by the recipient are worn on the left side of the chest or jacket. This includes campaign medals, bravery medals, and service medals issued by the Australian Government and foreign awards authorised by the Governor-General for wearing. They should be worn in the correct order of precedence and not include unauthorised medals.
Order of medals: The Governor-General's guide on the positioning of the wearing of Australian Orders, Decorations and medals.
Medal Level: Medals should be worn in a horizontal line, with the top of the medals positioned at a consistent level. A coat should be buttoned to maintain a smart and respectful appearance.
Miniature medals: These are worn on occasions when evening dress or a dinner jacket is worn at a dinner or evening function. If these are being worn by ancestors, they can be worn on the right, any time of day.
State-issued medals: State issued medals are worn on the right breast.
Clasps on Medals
A clasp is a metal bar worn on a medal ribbon to signify additional service or a new event for which the same medal has been awarded.
Clasps are worn in the order in which the events occurred.
The first (oldest) clasp is placed at the base of the ribbon, and any subsequent clasps are mounted above it, in chronological order.
All clasps are worn on a single ribbon for that medal; you do not wear a new medal for each new event or tour.
Citations
Unit Citations are awarded to a group for a collective act of gallantry or distinguished service.
Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force Unit Citations are worn on the right side of the chest, above the pocket. The exception is a Group Bravery Citation worn on the left side, roughly one centimetre above the medal rack.
Royal Australian Navy has followed a historic tradition where its Unit Citations are worn on the left side of the chest, positioned below the individual's medals. A Group Bravery Citation is also worn on the left side, roughly one centimetre above the medal rack.
State-specific citations for a specific event (e.g., Bushfires) are worn according to the guidelines of the awarding agency and are not authorised for wearing on Defence Force uniforms.
Individual Commendations: If a person has been personally commended for an act of bravery, such as receiving The Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct, this is worn directly on the coat on the left side of the chest, after any medal ribbons.
Pins and Badges
Personal badges should generally be worn on the left, typically on the lapel, and positioned above medals. Badges should only be worn by the person entitled to wear them and only when appropriate.
Qualification and Charge Badges – these are professional qualifications worn on the left side of the chest, above any medals or ribbons and below Combat Badges (if applicable). A person wearing civilian clothes should only display a single Qualification or Charge Badge.
Commendation Badges – Such as the ADF Commendation Badge is worn on the right above the medals. No more than three commendations badges should be worn.
Association Badge (e.g., RSL): This badge is usually worn on the left side, on the lapel.
The RSL badge is a time-honoured emblem with deep meaning for the veteran community. It symbolises readiness to serve and the bond of comradeship. The badge is not something that can be purchased by a non-Service member. It is issued as a sign of your membership and should only be worn by current RSL Service members.
Combat Badges: Combat badges, such as the Infantry Combat Badge are worn in a unique and prominent position on the left side of the chest, centred above the ribbon bar or medal set.
Covenant Lapel Pin: The Australian Defence Veterans' Covenant Lapel Pin should be worn on the left lapel and provides the opportunity for veterans to be easily identified when not wearing their medals or uniforms.
Service Badges (RAS, OSB) - worn on the left lapel when medals are not being worn, generally above the association (ie RSL Badge). While the official guidance is not to wear it with medals, some veterans choose to wear it as a personal sign of pride.
Foreign Awards
Foreign awards, if approved for wear, are worn on the left side of the chest with other personal medals, only if approved by the Governor-General, and their positioning must follow the issuing nation's precedence rules.
RSL Ambassador, CJ Pearce, wears her medals earned for her service with the Australian Army.
Suitable Occasions for wearing medals
Full sized medals should be worn on the left breast by the person who earned them, or on the right breast by a family member to honour an ancestor.
Suitable occasions include:
Anzac Day: Dawn services, marches, gunfire breakfasts and commemorative services.
Remembrance Day: Commemorative services
Other official commemorative events
Military funerals or memorial services
Official parades and ceremonies where military dress is worn.
Miniature Medals
Miniature medals are worn by the person who earned them, on the left breast, at formal evening events.
Suitable occasions include:
Formal military dinners and mess functions.
Black-tie events where the dress code specifies the wearing of decorations.
Formal receptions and evening galas hosted by military or government organisations.
Family members may wear them on the right, any time of day, at commemorative services and events.
Wearing a sprig of Rosemary or a Poppy
A sprig of Rosemary should be worn on Anzac Day on the left lapel or pinned to your chest, close to your heart. Rosemary is the traditional symbol of remembrance worn on Anzac Day in Australia. This is because rosemary grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula, giving it special significance.
A Poppy should be worn on Remembrance Day on the left lapel or pinned to your chest, close to your heart. The poppy was formally adopted as the international memorial flower to be worn on 11 November (Remembrance Day) by the Australian Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League (the forerunner to the RSL) in 1921. RSL Australia continues to uphold this tradition, encouraging the nation to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day.
Offences and False Claims
It is a federal offence to falsely represent as a serving or ex-service member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The Defence Act 1903, Sections 80A and 80B, makes it an offence for a person to wear a service decoration that was not conferred on them. By wearing a family member’s medals on the right side, you are following the correct protocol and ensuring you are not in violation of this law.
Misrepresenting service is not only a federal offence but is also considered immoral and a profound insult to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation. Fraudulent wearing of medals attracts penalties under Federal regulations and also attracts subsequent penalties under the RSL Constitution.
