Sydney-based community worker Bijinder Dugal has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for service to aged welfare.
The announcement was made as part of the King’s Birthday Honours, which recognises 948 Australians across the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and conspicuous service.
“As Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, I am delighted to announce and congratulate the remarkable Australians receiving honours in The 2026 King’s Birthday list,” said Sam Mostyn.
“Our honours system recognises outstanding people who contribute so much to Australia. In our communities, in workplaces and across the country, recipients have made an exceptional contribution to Australia.”
Mrs Dugal has been recognised for sustained service to older Australians, particularly within multicultural communities, through welfare programs, education initiatives and health and wellbeing support services.
She is a co-founding director of the AASHA Australia Foundation, a volunteer-run organisation established to support the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of older people in the Indian-Australian community.
Through AASHA, she has helped coordinate programs focused on active ageing, dementia awareness, elder rights education and social connection activities aimed at reducing isolation among seniors.
Her work has also included collaborations with education and health organisations on issues such as elder abuse awareness, financial safety and community wellbeing, as well as participation in local multicultural associations.
In addition to her community leadership, Mrs Dugal has had a long career in education, working across a range of NSW schools in specialist teaching and leadership roles, and has contributed to language and cultural education programs.
She has also been involved in Hindi language schooling and community education initiatives supporting cultural preservation and intergenerational engagement.
Mrs Dugal’s work has previously been recognised through multiple local and state-level volunteer and community awards, including recognition for leadership in multicultural volunteer services.
The King’s Birthday Honours List this year includes 702 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, along with 34 military awards, 149 meritorious awards and 63 conspicuous service awards.
Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states and territories in the coming months.
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