National Commemorative Service

Background

In 2023, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) marked the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. On 18 August 2023, a National Commemorative Service was held at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra. It was a day to commemorate the service of some 60,000 Australian men and women who served in the Vietnam War, and the sacrifice of their families. Tragically, 523 Australians lost their lives as a result of the war, and more than 3,000 were wounded.

General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC (Retd) joined DVA to acknowledge and commemorate this significant anniversary. As a Vietnam veteran, Sir Peter saw firsthand the dedication and devotion of those who served and, reflects on their courage, commitment and bravery.

The Service and other supporting activities were developed in conjunction with a national stakeholder consultative group, including Vietnam veterans and representatives of the wider veteran community. 18 August was selected as the date of the Service to coincide with Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which is also the date of the Battle of Long Tan.

Commemorative Medallion and Certificate

To further acknowledge this significant anniversary, DVA is also distributing a commemorative medallion and certificate. Further information can be found on the Commemorative Medallion and Certificate page.

Order of Service

Download the Order of Service (PDF 59 MB)

Broadcast of the Service

The majority of the Service was broadcast live on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). You can watch the complete recording on the ABC’s YouTube and iView. You can also watch the pre-service program on the ABC’s iView.

You can also view a selection of images captured at the Service on Flickr.

Our Vietnam War

In conjunction with the ABC, DVA also co-produced a short documentary mini-series entitled Our Vietnam War, which tells the story of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War in the words of the men who were sent to fight; the battles, the protests, returning and the long shadow the war cast on the people whose lives were turned upside down. You can watch the three episodes on ABC’s iView.

Contact information

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Tel: 1800 838 372 within Australia
Tel: +61 2 6289 1133 from outside Australia
Email: commemorations [at] dva.gov.au (commemorations[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au)

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