Her family noticed her absence but had no idea this Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer and mother-of-three was about to blow open Australia's biggest counter-terrorism investigation.

After watching news images of 800 police officers rolling out 25 raids across Sydney in the early hours of September 18, Detective Schofield received a call from her husband.

"He watched the news and said 'this is what you've been doing?" Detective Schofield said.

"My family knew I had been absent and were like 'wow, this is what you've been working on, we had no idea'."

That was when the scale of the investigation - codenamed Operation Appleby - she had been a senior investigative officer on for several months hit home.

Detective Schofield's dedication to her job and 27 years of expertise in the fields of organised crime, drug investigation and counter terrorism earned her the Australian Police Medal (APM) on Monday.

"I am really honoured but I think it's an award I have received on behalf of many," she said. "No matter what rank you are, you do it as part of a team."

Eighteen months ago Detective Schofield, who has also been recognised for mentoring fellow female investigators, was promoted to the rank of Detective Superintendent in the AFP's organised crime and cyber area.

Detective Schofield has worked on high profile investigations in recent years, including the alleged $165 million Australian Taxation Office fraud racket.

Reflecting on what it was like to work on the nation's largest counter-terrorism investigation, Schofield described the pressure of ensuring nothing went wrong and juggling multiple targets in a rapidly changing terrorism environment.

Operation Appleby presented police with new types of "low level sophistication attacks", including plots to carry out a public beheading and attack police buildings and a naval base in Sydney. The investigation spanned many months and led to the arrest of more than a dozen people.

On reflection, Schofield said she didn't think they would run an investigation like Appleby the same way again. Now, law enforcement was "very comfortable with early disruption".

"We look at it differently now in terms of what is success," she explained.

"It used to be a prosecution but it is a lot more different now. We look at it in terms of disruption."

Balancing long hours on big investigations with family life has been one of the greatest challenges of her career.

"You need a good husband," she joked.

Asked what advice she gave to women heading down a similar career path, Detective Schofield highlighted the importance of having confidence in yourself, being responsible for your own learning and "sticking to it".

In NSW, the Public Order Riot Squad boss, Chief Superintendent Donna Adney was among eight police officers awarded the APM.

Superintendent Adney's career has included stints in the police air wing, leading the Dog Unit and working as a protection officer for the Special Branch. It was there she was assigned to look after Princess Diana during her trip to Australia.

The incredibly fit police officer of 30 years can likely give any of her riot squad troops a run for their money in the gym. But a drive to create a positive environment for younger cops is where her passion lies.

"In the last 15 years as a commander there have been lots of incidents," she said. "But the thing that most sticks with me is providing an environment for young police to do the best job they can and be the best they can be."

Superintendent Adney will be at the helm of PORS when 100 of its officers are equipped with M4 military-style guns as the force adapts to the growing threat of terrorism.

"I think we are in an entirely different police environment than we were, say even five years ago," she said.

"I'm comfortable this is a necessary move forward for us to take if we are really serious about community safety and police safety."