For Paediatric Radiologist, Professor Albert Lam, becoming a doctor was never a choice.
"Your parents tend to pursuade you to be a professional and medicine is usually the first choice," he said.
But as he studied medicine in Hong Kong, his passion for saving lives grew.
Professor Lam pioneered the detection and treatment of childhood cancers using ultrasound technology in Australia.
Professor Albert Lam (SBS) Source: SBS
"A lot of the time, children don't know how to tell you how unwell they are. And a lot of the time, the doctor can't pick up the signs. Radiology helps the doctor and the children."
He has since saved the lives of thousands of children and taught all over the world.
Today, he's one of the 958 people recognised on the Australia Day Honours List.
Denele Crozier has also been honoured.
It was her time working as a psychiatric nurse in the 1970s that exposed Ms Crozier to deep injustices in the health system.
She eventually began working at a women's health clinic.
Danele Crozier (SBS) Source: SBS
And after more than 30 years, is now the CEO of Women's Health NSW - a service providing care and support to thousands of women across the state.
"Personally, it's a sense of hope that gives me my passion. If you're in the company of good, passionate people, that are working for a cause that you value, that's energising," Ms Crozier said.
Roland Jabbour is being recognised for his contribution to Australia's Lebanese community.
He's worked to further relations between Australia and Arabic-speaking nations throughout his career.
Mr Jabbour says he is honoured to be on this year's list.
"There were many positive aspects of the Arab region that I felt it was important to try to project them in order to have a more accurate reflection of the realities in that part of the world."
Australia Post CEO, Ahmed Fahour, was born in Lebanon, and migrated to Australia when he was three-years-old.
As a teenager, he loved playing AFL.
Ahmed Fahour (SBS) Source: SBS
But Mr Fahour said it was watching his mother run a successful bakery in Melbourne that sparked his interest in business.
"That's where I learnt on the ground what it's like to run a small family business, to run a business and to learn some of the values and principles that some of the small business owners have. And that's stood me in good stead."
Mr Fahour is being honoured for his work as a business leader, as well as his promotion of multiculturalism.
"I sort of look around and I think about all the people who have made huge sacrifices to give me the opportunities to succeed that I have, and I feel that this award is just as much for them," Mr Fahour said.
