This award and others were handed out at the annual IWD Breakfast held at the Coffs Harbour Race Club on March 8.

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Award winner Falak Othman and her family fled war in Syria for Iraq in 2012, eventually arriving in Australia in 2017.

Unable to read or write English until she was fourteen, Falak learnt the language in a year.

“My message for young people is to never give up, even if you don’t know how to read or write,” Falak told NOTA.

“It’s easy to do anything you want,” she said.

“It’s never impossible, it’s never too late, you can do it by being helped by the support of your friends and family.”

Falak is now fluent in Arabic, Kurdish, English and Turkish, which she said helps her immensely when interacting with multicultural patients at the local hospital.

She even speaks a little Chinese and German, utilising language skills that date back many years.

As a child, she translated for others with UNICEF in Iraq for three years during the war in the Middle East – supporting people suffering from trauma.

These language skills coupled with her empathy have forged her path towards helping others professionally.

Falak is set to start her midwifery course at Southern Cross University in July.

Flanked by her parents and sister after the award announcement, Falak was streamed live through their phones to family back home.

“We are from the Yazidi nationals which is a rare community, a very small number,” she told NOTA.

“My parents are very proud of me today.

“Hopefully I will be a good role model for women and young people.”

Heather Duncan was named runner up in the IWD Woman of the Year Award.

A local rugby league powerhouse, Heather plays with the Gumbaynggirr Coffs Coast Raidettes and is passionate about bringing more women and girls into the sport.

“What I do is rugby league for women and girls in our community and that’s what I’ll keep doing,” she said.

Heather is a strong advocate for the mental health benefits of sport.

“Sport is the best thing that we have for wellbeing.

“It brings people together, the kids love it and it causes happiness,” she said.

Heather said he was inspired by Friday’s IWD event, which was the first she had attended.

“I’ve absolutely loved being a part of this and it’s inspiring seeing all the women here and learning all the great things women are doing in the community,” she said.

Rachelle Stevens won the Southern Cross University (SCU) International Women’s Day scholarship.

The fourth year student at SCU is currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary), specialising in Science and Technology.

“This scholarship means a lot to me as I have my final unpaid placement coming up soon and this will definitely ease the financial burden of that and just allow me to focus on my studies,” said Rachelle.

“I’m extremely honoured and it’s an incredible experience as the turnout today was inspiring.

“You can feel the support in the room.”

By Mary KEILY