A Bunya woman who has spent the past two decades helping refugees assimilate into the Australian way of life has been named a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal for her devotion to education.

Frances Orford admitted to being “a little bit tearful” and “overwhelmed“ when she learned of her “totally humbling” accolade, announced on Australia Day.

“Even when I first got the letter saying that they were considering me for the award I was totally stunned, because you’re in education because you enjoy working with kids, you enjoy the organisation, the relationships, the job satisfaction,” Mrs Orford said.

“I don’t think anyone thinks about getting an award for something that they do for a job, so this is just a wonderful bonus.”

After starting her career in education 38 years ago, Mrs Orford has spent the second half of her working life at Yeronga State High School, which has the largest refugee population of any school in Queensland.

She overseas an English language program for young refugees – two-thirds from Africa and one-third from the Middle Eastern nations such as Iraq or Afghanistan – while helping condition them for life in their new homeland.

“They’re nearly all young people who had major experiences of trauma in their life – they’ve seen Dad killed or Mum raped or they’ve had to be child soldiers – so they come really as very needy young people,” Mrs Orford said.

“Coming to a new country and coming from so much trauma is a huge thing and to try to settle into the education system, particularly as adolescents, is a lot to achieve.

“They’ve come from such disadvantage yet they work to integrate and become so resilient, so it’s the least I can do to help them on their journey.

“Their motivation, their enthusiasm, their manners, everything, is just so rewarding that it’s a pleasure to be with them.”

Mrs Orford, who previously won a Queensland Multicultural Award for excellence in education, said the classroom was “where my job satisfaction and my dedication have really been over quite a number of years”.

“They (the students) are so rewarding to work with,” she said. “When a student or a member of their family come and say, ‘thanks Miss, that really helps’, as an educator that’s where you get your satisfaction, because you know you have helped somebody.

Mrs Orford, who also liaises with community organisations that assist victims of torture and deal with multicultural mental health, has no plans to change careers.

“Working with people and helping people meeting a need is just a fantastic way to live your life, because in giving you get so much back and it’s enriching,” she said.

“I’m also very, very fortunate that after working at anything for such a long period of time I still look forward to each day and still thoroughly enjoy what I do.”

Mrs Orford urged the community to better understand the changing nature of non-English speaking refugees and migrants.

“I’ve seen them become totally outstanding, upright, wonderful Australian citizens that the community can now be very proud of,” she said. 

“The more that we can understand newcomers and feel open to what they can bring, I think we can only all be enriched.”