Wearing awards

Air Force veterans have earned the right to wear the RAAF uniform, and their awards and decorations, with pride. Wearing them as an Air Force Association member also carries responsibilities.

Wearing awards and decorations incorrectly can affect the reputation of the wearer, the Association, the Air Force and the awards themselves — and in some cases it is against the law. In February 2026 the Association released a Guide for the Wearing of Awards and Decorations, developed by AFA’s South Australia Division and supported through the Federation Council, and approved for release by the National Board ahead of ANZAC Day.

Who the guidance is for

The guide applies to every AFA member: former members of the RAAF, current serving members of the RAAF who belong to the Association, and members who have not served but may wear the awards and decorations of a family member in their honour.

• How and when to wear your own awards and decorations
• Wearing a family member’s medals in their memory (which side, and how)
• Order of wear, and keeping awards in good repair
• What not to do — the obligations that protect the honour of the awards

Download the guide and poster

The full guide covers every situation in detail; the poster is a quick-reference summary you can print and keep.

PDFGuideGuide for the Wearing of Awards and DecorationsHow and when to wear medals and decorations — your own, or a family member’s in their memory — as an Association member.PDF · 2.7 MB · February 2026Download ↓ JPGWearing of Awards and Decorations — quick-reference posterGuide · JPG · Updated September 2026Download ↓