25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan 2001-2021
| Service: | National commemoration to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan 2001-2021 |
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| Date: | Time from 10:00am, Sunday 11 October 2026 |
| Venue: | Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT |
| Registration | The registration portal is not open. Please check back shortly for a link to register your attendance at this service. |
National commemorative service
To mark the 25th anniversary of Australian service in the Afghanistan 2001-2021, The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) will be holding a national commemorative service in Canberra on 11 October 2026 (11 October 2001 marks the official start date of Operation Slipper) at the Australian War Memorial.
The service will also be broadcast nationally by the ABC.
More information about the national commemorative service will be published to this page as it becomes available. Please check back shortly.
Back to topBackground
From 2001, more than 35,000 Australians served in Afghanistan and the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) in relation to Afghanistan. In response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, Australian forces contributed to a multinational attempt to bring security to Afghanistan, stabilise the wider region, and defeat terrorist activity. For more than two decades, Australians have also contributed reconstruction efforts focused on creating safe conditions for democratic governance, mentoring and training, and humanitarian aid.
Australians served our country with courage, professionalism, commitment and integrity. We remember the Australians who lost their lives during or as a result of their service and acknowledge the physical and mental impacts that service has had on many of our veterans and their families.
Back to topResources
DVA develops a range of commemorative and educational materials to further help recognise and remember Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan.
To learn more about Australians in Afghanistan, visit our Anzac Portal
Back to topOpen Arms
Open Arms provides free mental health and wellbeing support to anyone who has served at least one day of continuous fulltime service in the ADF and their immediate families. Available at any time of the day or night, every day of the year.
To find out more call 1800 011 046.
Back to topContact information
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Phone: 1800 838 372 within Australia
Tel: +61 2 6289 1133 from outside Australia
Email: Commemorative.Events@dva.gov.au