More than half a century of service | Ken Habak OAM

Lifetime Community Service Medal sponsored by SBS

For over 55 years, Ken Habak has worked to support migrants and strengthen community life across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and ACT.

Even after receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia, he remains focused on collective effort rather than individual recognition.

“We should always remember that what we do today rests on the shoulders of others that have gone before us,” he said.

“It’s always a team effort.

“To get to where you want to, you need to know deeply who you are and where you’ve come from.

“In order to create a future that we can be proud of, we also need to be proud of our past.”

Ken arrived in Wollongong from Lebanon in 1970. Soon after, he founded the city’s first Arabic School for Lebanese Australians.

In 1975, he established the Australian Lebanese Association and led the organisation for six years, while also contributing to his Orthodox parish church.

His longest and most influential role was with the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI), which he led for 25 years until stepping down in late 2025 due to family circumstances.

“In those early years, there were significant challenges,” he said.

“The September 11 terror attacks were fresh on people’s minds, we experienced the Cronulla riots and there was great pressure being placed on our social cohesion.

“This was especially so for the Middle Eastern and Islamic communities.”

During his leadership, Ken developed services that continue to support the community, including in-home care and dementia programs.

He also advocated directly for migrants facing everyday barriers.

“I remember there were a lot of new migrants who were struggling to find places to live, so I advocated for them with the then Housing Commission,” he said.

“I translated the permit booklet for learner drivers into Arabic so that elderly Arabic people could do the exam in their own language.”

“When I started at MCCI, we had 13 part-time staff and six volunteers. Now, we have 170 staff and 160 volunteers.

“I am very proud of that achievement.”

For more than 50 years, MCCI has supported migrants and refugees, encouraged civic participation and strengthened multicultural communities.

“It is a vision that has remained unchanged. I am honoured to have played a part in that,” Ken said.

Under his guidance, MCCI expanded its services, reach and impact, growing revenue from $2.5 million to $21 million in less than a decade.

“It hasn’t always been easy,” Ken said.

“But we’ve focused on the long-term and best interests of our community, and I leave an organisation that is now stronger than ever.

“It simply would not have been possible without the work of members, staff, volunteers and friends who all share a vision for a cohesive, equitable and peaceful society for everyone.”

 

For his lifetime commitment to multicultural communities, Ken Habak OAM was awarded the 2026 Lifetime Community Service Medal.