Australian soldier says we can still dream

Australia's most highly decorated serviceman Ben Roberts-Smith says Australians can still live out their dreams, despite recent atrocities.

In his Australia Day Address on Wednesday, the soldier told a Sydney audience he had lived his own personal dream as a member of the army's Special Air Service.

Mr Roberts-Smith served in Afghanistan, after which he was awarded the Medal of Gallantry (2006) and Victoria Cross (2011) for the most conspicuous gallantry in action while in extreme peril.

He has also served in Iraq, East Timor and Fiji.

"I'm here to tell you that you can do that in Australia; live dreams, that is," he said.

"So whatever your dream, whatever your mission, get on with it."

Although the country's freedoms and rights remained under attack from "terror and insurgency rampaging throughout the world", he assured Australians the military was at the coalface of defence.

Mr Roberts-Smith also sent a message to soldiers struggling to adjust to civilian life, saying they must find their own mission now.

"The motivation and the passion have to come from you," he said.

"There isn't an equivalent of SAS selection for becoming a civvie again, just your very own baptism of fire.

"The singular talent I've seen in spades in soldiers of every rank in every circumstance is leadership."