Distinguished Service Medal

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. Awards are made by the governor-general of Australia on the advice of the minister for Defence. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSM". Since its inception 362 awards have been made—which includes nine bars and one second bar—with the most recent being announced in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.