Aussie troops send Christmas messages home

Spare a thought for the thousands of Australian defence personnel serving overseas, such as Private Brooke Thertell who's spending her first Christmas away from home.

A member of the international military police in Kabul, Afghanistan, Private Thertell has sent a Christmas video message to her family in Forster, NSW.

"It's my first Christmas this year not being at home. So I just wanted to say Merry Christmas," she said in the video recorded by the Australian Defence Force.

Many of the 2300 Australian troops serving on operations in the Middle East over Christmas have send festive messages home to family and friends in Australia. .

Serving in the force protection element in Afghanistan, Matthew Nisbitt from Brisbane, has sent messages of love to his family, including his pregnant sister.

"I'm upset that I'm missing out on that Christmas turkey for the first time," he said.

Food seemed to be a common theme among the homesick service men and women, with Lieutenant Nathan Havlin also saying he would miss Christmas lunch.

"I'm going to miss all the seafood. I wish I could be there with you," he said.

Dressed in Santa hats or covered in tinsel, military personnel in Afghanistan all promised to see their families soon.

And while their families in Australia can expect a sunny Christmas Day with most major cities expected to top the high 20s or low 30s, those based in Kabul, Afghanistan can expect a chilly maximum of 8C.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said it was important to remember "our military personnel who continue to work and serve over the holiday period".

"We also share a special thought for families and friends of those on duty overseas, who will be apart from their lobed ones over Christmas," Mr Shorten said in a statement on Monday.