A FORMER Maroochydore State High School student who has gone on to become a campaigner on Muslim and wider multicultural issues has been recognised with an Australia Day honour.

Diana Abdel-Rahman received an Order of Australia medal for her services to the multicultural community through a variety of organisations in Canberra where she has lived for nearly 30 years.

Ms Abdel-Rahman completed part of her high school education at Maroochydore in the mid-1970s after moving to Alexandra Headland from Brisbane with her family.

Her Lebanese parents had intended to take their Australian-born children back to Lebanon but were forced to change plans when war broke out in their home country.

"They said, 'Let's go to the Sunshine Coast."

She said they felt welcome as soon as they arrived on the Coast.

"The people were some of the best and nicest people that you could come across. It was a country town."

Ms Abdel-Rahman was unfamiliar with plans to build a Muslim prayer centre in Maroochydore and opposition to it from members of the community.

She said she hoped the Coast would keep its welcoming feel which she described as "that beautiful thing about it."

In Canberra, Ms Abdel-Rahman has been involved with establishing a multi-lingual radio station and the Canberra Multicultural Community Services Forum.

She is a regular speaker on Muslim and multi-cultural issues.

She said advocacy was a necessary part of a multi-cultural community.

"The idea of bringing in a diverse group of people through the gate and that they're all going to get along with each other, it doesn't happen by magic," she said.

"We have to have really good multicultural policies in place. We have to work at it."