More than a thousand Australians have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours List

More than a thousand Australians have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to their communities. This year’s list of recipients is the largest in the history of the Order of Australia, and more than 200 of them were born overseas. Dr Nouria Salehi ((NOO-re-a sa-LEH-hee)) has never been one to sit still. She left a difficult life behind in Afghanistan – but she did not choose an easy one in Melbourne. A nuclear physicist by day, a restauranteur by night – and a human rights activist around the clock. Dr Salehi is one of the 1127 Australians honoured in the 2019 Order of Australia list. When she arrived in Australia, she was determined to contribute to her new country – her research into radioactive isotopes to detect and treat cancer still benefits many patients today. But the plight of the Afghan people remained at the forefront of her mind – so with no professional cooking experience, she started her own restaurant, as a venture to sponsor Afghan families and raise money for education projects. Please listen to the full report in Pashto language.