Let's recognise female veterans: Dan Tehan

A campaign launched ahead of Anzac Day aims to shine a light on the service and sacrifice of Australia's female veterans.

Many female Defence personnel have told of wearing their service medals in public only to have people assume they belonged to their fathers or grandfathers.

"So this Anzac Day, if you see anyone wearing medals on their left side it is because they earned those medals and please tell them 'thank you' for their service," Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan said on Tuesday.

Some 16 per cent of permanent, full-time Australian Defence Force personnel are women, with 266 women serving on ADF operations overseas, representing about 14 per cent of the total deployed force.

Mr Tehan said there were 82 women in senior officer positions compared with 48 in February 2012.

"As a nation we respect and honour the service and sacrifice of every man and woman who serves in defence of our nation, our freedoms and our values," he said.