Timor Leste Solidarity Medal TLSM

The Timor Leste Solidarity Medal: In November 2008, the Australian Government formally accepted an offer from the then-President of Timor-Leste for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to accept and wear the Timor-Leste Solidarity Medal (TLSM). The medal was established to recognise those men and women who provided service in stability and peace operations in Timor-Leste from 1 May 2006. Approximately 7,000 ADF members have been awarded the medal and have been approved by the Governor-General to wear the medal.

ADF members must not contact the Government of Timor-Leste directly concerning their eligibility for the TLSM. The eligibility criteria for the medal states:

1. members qualify having served a minimum of 180 days continuous or accrued service in East Timor from 01 May 2006;
2. nominations will be considered for personnel that have served a minimum of 120 days from 01 May 2006;
3. nominations will be considered for personnel who served with a start date in May or June 2006 for a period at least 90 days; and
4. the President of the Republic may consider extraordinary cases outside the above time periods.

In late 2011, the Government of Timor-Leste advised that extraordinary cases would only be considered for a member who is returned to Australia:

• early because of injuries sustained on operations in East Timor, specifically Operation ASTUTE from 1 May 2006; or
• for compassionate reasons, but each compassionate reason will be considered on its individual merit.

The Government of Timor-Leste informed Defence that the awarding of the TLSM would cease at the end of 2012 and no further applications would be considered from 2013 onwards.