Australian Commendations are awards of recognition which all Department of Defence personnel are eligible; including both Defence Members and the Australian Public Service (APS). The Scheme provides a means to formally recognise outstanding/exceptional achievement, or specific acts of bravery for which awards from within the Australian Honours System are not an appropriate medium of recognition. The circumstances attracting the award of a commendation may relate to an isolated instance or to a series of instances over a period of time.

• Commendation for Gallantry
• Commendation for Brave Conduct
• Commendation for Distinguished Service

• Secretary/Chief of Defence Force Joint Commendation
• Secretary of Defence Commendation
• Chief of Defence Force Commendation
• Defence Support Services Commendation (Gold, Silver & Bronze)
• Australian Defence Force Commendation (Gold, Silver & Bronze)
• Navy Commendation (Gold, Silver & Bronze)
• Army Commendation (Gold, Silver & Bronze)
• Air Force Commendation (Gold, Silver & Bronze)

• Director General Australian Navy Cadets Commendation
• National Commander Australian Navy Cadets Commendation (Gold, Silver & Bronze)
• Commander - Australian Army Cadets Commendation (Gold)
• Deputy Commander - Australian Army Cadets Commendation (Silver)
• Regional Commander - Australian Army Cadets Commendation (Bronze)
• Director General Cadets - Air Force Commendation (Bronze)
• Commander - Australian Air Force Cadets Commendation (Silver)

Commendations come in three grades (Gold, Silver & Bronze) of which Gold is the highest and Bronze is the lowest.

• Australian Honours System
• Australian Honours Order of Precedence

• AAFC Commendations^{[permanent dead link‍]}
• AAC Commendations
• Defence Commendation Scheme