This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Australian of the Year awards. The national finalists for the four awards represent a diverse cross-section of Australian society, from doctors, scientists, and educators to volunteers, storytellers, and advocates.
When Professor Munjed Al Muderis [[MOON-jed AL muh-DAIR-iss]] fled Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1999, he was focused purely on survival.
After travelling from Malaysia to Australia in a leaky, wooden boat, he was held in detention for 10 months before being granted refugee status.
Today, he's one of the country's top orthopaedic surgeons, and a finalist for Australian of the Year for his contribution to medicine and his humanitarian work.
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