Rahma Health Wins Top Honour at Telstra Business Awards
09 Dec 2025
Rahma Health, a community-driven organisation supporting Arabic-speaking families to access health information, has been named Business of the Year 2025 at the Telstra Best of Business Awards.
The organisation was founded in 2020 by Dr Naba Alfayadh, a Melbourne GP registrar, after she noticed a significant gap in reliable, culturally appropriate health resources for Arabic-speaking families, despite her own access to comprehensive healthcare information. Rahma Health produces resources covering pregnancy, childbirth, mental health, parenting, and family wellbeing.
One of its landmark projects is a comprehensive guide on Love in Parenting, designed to support communities affected by displacement, war, and intergenerational trauma. Since its inception, Rahma Health’s materials have been accessed over three million times worldwide, reaching families from Sydney to Baghdad, Dubai to Dublin.
Dr Alfayadh described the award as a “phenomenal milestone,” reflecting both the scale of the organisation’s impact and the critical need for its work. Rahma Health was chosen from 20,000 applicants, undergoing a rigorous nine-month evaluation process. In addition to the top prize, it also received National Best of Business Awards for Championing Health and Accelerating Women.
Dr Mariam Hassan, GP and founding board director, highlighted the practical benefits of Rahma Health’s work, particularly for recently arrived refugees. “Language barriers and differences in health literacy make accessing healthcare challenging,” she said. “Being able to empower families with knowledge and guidance is incredibly rewarding. Patients who understand and apply the information often share it with relatives, creating a ripple effect of education and wellbeing.”
All Rahma Health resources are co-designed with the communities they serve, supported by 70 volunteers, 50 global partner organisations, and numerous GPs, including Dr Azhar Al-Sadii, Dr Sama Hadad, Dr Ibtihal Altawil, and Dr Alisha Rawal. The team itself is composed entirely of individuals with lived experience as refugees and migrants, ensuring authenticity and cultural understanding.
A major focus this year was the creation of the world’s first Arabic-language antenatal video series, informed directly by Dr Alfayadh’s clinical work. The series has reached audiences in refugee camps in Jordan, Syrian families in Turkey, and rural women in Yemen.
The impact of Rahma Health’s resources is tangible. One Iraqi refugee reflected, “Reading Rahma’s articles helped me recognise different forms of family violence and protect myself and my children.” A Palestinian father said, “Following Rahma’s parenting advice has strengthened the bond with my children—they’re happier, and our connection is deeper.”
Rahma Health continues to demonstrate how culturally tailored, community-led health education can transform lives while empowering families across the globe.
News Source: RACGP
