ðə sˌiːdˌiːˈɛf ɪz ðɪ ɔːstɹˈeɪliən ɪkwˈɪvələnt pəzˈɪʃən ʌv wʌt ɪn nˈeɪɾoʊ ænd ðə jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən jˈuːniən ɪz nˈoʊn æz ðə tʃˈiːf ʌv dᵻfˈɛns, ɪnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd kˈɪŋdəm ɪz nˈoʊn æz ðə tʃˈiːf ʌvðə dᵻfˈɛns stˈæf, ænd ɪnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts ɪz nˈoʊn æz ðə tʃˈɛɹmən ʌvðə dʒˈɔɪnt tʃˈiːfs ʌv stˈæf, ɔːlðˈoʊ wɪððə lˈæɾɚ pɹəhˈɪbɪɾᵻd baɪ lˈɔː fɹʌm hˌævɪŋ ˌɑːpɚɹˈeɪʃənəl kəmˈænd ɐθˈɔːɹɪɾi ˌoʊvɚ ðə jˌuːˈɛs ˈɑːɹmd fˈoːɹsᵻz.
The CDF is the Australian equivalent position of what in NATO and the European Union is known as the Chief of Defence, in the United Kingdom is known as the Chief of the Defence Staff, and in the United States is known as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, although with the latter prohibited by law from having operational command authority over the US Armed Forces.