Dr Faryal Zehra

Founder and CEO of SAZ Education and Little Helpers on the Run
MBBS, BHlthSc (Paramedicine), IMRCS, FCPS I, PhD (Surgery, UNSW, Sydney, Australia), Postdoctoral Fellowship (Surgery)

Dr Zehra is a clinician and researcher with extensive experience in local and overseas community work. Her vision to develop an organisation that can promote health literacy and create opportunities to raise the level of education to help bridge the existing gaps within the community led to the foundation of SAZ.

Experience of working within different communities both locally and overseas allowed Dr Zehra to understand the health-related issues of deficient levels of individual literacy. Extensively working very closely with/for youth and children, she noticed a poor level of health literacy along with poor physical fitness among kids of many low socioeconomic schools. She also observed that people from vulnerable or disadvantaged groups can be at higher risk of having low individual health literacy. In addition, she recognised the gaps in available health literacy resources and programme knowledge about existing resources for people who speak English as a second language. This experience gave her a deep appreciation of issues and the importance of addressing these issues.

She is also a great advocate of education for all and aims to improve access to high-quality education by developing many virtual tools and supporting many education-related initiatives.

Dr Zehra is the founder of Little Helpers on the Run. This unique children-run not-for-profit organisation allow children of the community to participate in a wide range of community activities. This organisation's mission is to develop a generation of selfless, passionate volunteers, and they have accomplished 6,000 kindness projects.

Dr. Faryal Zehra's Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Faryal Zehra's dedication and leadership have garnered her numerous accolades and inspired her team of volunteers to achieve remarkable milestones in community service. Here's a summary of the awards and recognitions received by Dr Faryal Zehra and her dedicated volunteers under her exemplary leadership:

Dr. Faryal Zehra's Awards:

Women of the Year Award - Finalist, Blacktown City Council, 2024 & 2022

The Academy Citizen Scholar Award, Western Sydney University, 2024

Citizen of the Year - Finalist, Australia Day Award, Blacktown City Council, 2024

Unsung Hero Award - Finalist, Zest Award, 2022 & 2021

Selected for Public Art and Cultural Project, Burwood Council for International Women's Day 2022

Selected as Panellist, Burwood Council Discussion Forum for International Women's Day 2022

Citizen of the Year Award, Burwood Council, 2021

Westfield Local Hero, 2021

Unsung Hero Award - Finalist, Zest Award, 2021

Mentor of the Year Award, Pakistan Association Australia, 2021

Community Service Recognition Award, Pakistan Association Australia, 2019

Volunteers' Awards under Dr. Faryal Zehra's Leadership:

Citizen of the Year - Youth Award:

Aish (Age 11), The Hills Shire Council, 2024

Abdullah (Age 15), The Hills Shire Council, 2024

Aiza (Age 19), The Hills Shire Council, 2024

Winner - Little Helpers on the Run, The Hills Shire Council, 2024

Dame Marie Bashir Peace Award

Aiza (Nominated by school), National Council of Women NSW, 2022

Young Volunteer of the Year Award:

Aiza, Burwood Council, 2021

Community Award:

Consumer Project of the Year, Hall & Prior Aged Care, 2023

Most Enriching Community Kindness Initiative, New South Wales, Acquisition International, 2023

The ACCPA Community Connections Award “Over and Above”, 2022

Bidwill Public School, Danni England Award to Little Helpers on the Run, 2020

Donation and Grant Recipient:

Common Wealth Bank Community Donation Program Recipient, 2023

Recipient of Community Grant, Burwood Council (Multiple Years)

Recipient of Inner West Council/Wests Ashfield Club Grant, 2021

NSW Government Empowering and Supporting Local Communities Grants Recipient, 2021

Dr. Faryal Zehra, Westfield Mount Druitt Local Hero Grant Recipient, 2021

Nominations and Commendations:

Nominated for Making a Difference Category, Aged & Community Care Providers Association, 2023

Aiza, Aish, and Abdullah (Nominated by nursing homes and schools), Young Local Hero, Waverley Council, 2023

Under Dr. Faryal Zehra's inspiring leadership, her volunteers have consistently demonstrated commitment, passion, and excellence in

serving the community, earning them numerous accolades and recognitions.

Our Team

Dr Samreen Zeeshan

MBBS, FRACGP

Dr Zeeshan is a practicing GP and has a huge interest in serving children and women in need. She brings with her a number of years of experience in health related voluntary work. She promotes Little Helper’s mission and provides professional advice when required.

Ali has completed his Bachelors and Masters in Information Technology. He works as an Application Support Analyst and has a number of years experience in working with people from different backgrounds. He assists to oversee data management and provides support in developing new solutions.

Ali Pirzada

Bachelors and Masters in Information Technology 

"Find what you love to do, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

Harvey Mackay

Dr Chris Rizos

Bachelor of Surveying (UNSW) 1975, PhD (UNSW) 1980

Professional Bio: Chris Rizos is an Emeritus Professor at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney. Australia

Chris is a Past President of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), and currently President-elect of the International Union of Geodesy & Geophysics. Chris has been researching the technology and applications of Global Navigation Satellite Systems and other positioning technologies for over three decades, and is a named author of over 650 journal and conference papers. His expertise is geodesy, surveying and navigation.
Chris Rizos has an interest in helping his community, and currently volunteers to assist with food services at the Exodus Foundation in their kitchen located in Ashfield. He also volunteers at the Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged located in Earlwood.

"There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Nelson Mandela

Nauman Tariq

Bachelors and Masters in Information Technology 

Diana’s career background is primarily in managerial, technical and administrative support roles in both the public and private sectors. Her diverse industry experience encompasses aged care, health and fitness, telecommunications, medical, legal, banking, electricity and retail. Diana currently works as Quality, Compliance and Risk Manager for the Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged. She is also an accredited service provider for NDIS under the improved health and wellbeing category. Diana writes and presents training sessions to aged care workers and delivers presentations to diversional and recreation therapy personnel. Diana greatly values the notion of social justice in giving back to the community and contributing to the welfare and wellbeing of people in need. Her belief in this concept equally extends to the responsibility of looking after the welfare and wellbeing of our animals and wildlife. Diana’s passion is equality and accessibility for all regardless of personal and socioeconomic circumstances. She has been a Justice of the Peace NSW for 29 years and has been a registered Civil Marriage Celebrant for thirteen years. Diana is an avid writer and poet of humour.

By trade He is Software Engineer, but take a lot of pride in taking a simple idea to a fully planned product, even before the build begins, both own startups and in external projects looking for help in taking something from idea stage to ready to build.

Among his specialties are helping new Internet businesses, startups, and developing cutting edge platforms for scalable companies. Besides mentoring young talent, he is active in local community projects as well.

Dr Sara Saleem

MBBS

Dr Saleem is a practising doctor. She was involved in charity work for a number of years working in an individual capacity. She also took part in voluntary and charity work before she entered medicine. It is Dr Saleem’s passion to help those in need. She is particularly interested in working for children’s needs and also, working with children. Her interest in improving the health literacy of children and promote education became the reason for her joining and becoming a part of SAZ. 

Diana Rizos