Her amazing story begins with her father’s rescue from the Timor Sea by the Royal Australian Navy on his journey to escape persecution.
In 2000, Australian defence forces rescued Kbora Ali’s father from a tiny wooden boat sinking in the middle of the Timor Sea as he bravely struggled to make his way to a new life free from persecution in Afghanistan.
Today, his daughter has made history as the first woman of Afghan descent to serve in Australia’s military and has been named The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year for 2024.
It’s a link through time that Corporal Ali says gives her military service “more purpose”.
“My dad literally risked his whole life to give us a new life and opportunity. He remembers how grateful he was that the navy ship came to save them,” says the 26-year-old, who recently took her father, Sultan Ali, on an emotional trip back to Indonesia, where he left for Australia 24 years ago.
“It makes me proud to think so many years ago my dad was a refugee and now the daughter is serving with the armed forces, obviously it gives me so much drive and motivation to continue what I do.
“Defence is home for me for that reason.”
Corporal Ali and her family fled Afghanistan when she was just a little girl.
She lived with her mum and six siblings for seven years in Pakistan’s Quetta refugee settlement for persecuted Hazaris before being reunited with Mr Ali in Adelaide, where he had started a new life for them after being released from the Woomera detention centre.
She excelled in Year 12 – finishing Our Lady of Sacred Heart College in Enfield with an ATAR of 97 – and then shocked her parents by enlisting in the Army straight out of high school.
Her military career has taken her to postings in Canberra and Townsville. She has also served as a UNICEF young ambassador, has tossed the coin at the Australian Open and delivered the trophy for Australia’s T20 match against Afghanistan (she was barracking for Australia) and run her first marathon.
These days, she is based in Adelaide, serving as a capability specialist for the Air Force.
Sitting in the traditionally furnished guest room of her family’s Parafield Gardens home, Corporal Ali reflects on the powerful message that her military feat represents.
In Afghanistan, women are prohibited from going to school, driving and having any power in their society. A career in the military would be unthinkable.
“Girls are restricted from study or education, which is why I’ve always had this eagerness to learn and to go to school,” says Corporal Ali, who has been with the Air Force for the past two years after serving six years in the Army.
“You always think, coming to another country, ‘what would my life be like there?’. It would be pretty unpredictable. You’d never me see in a uniform or driving, you don’t have the basic rights. No study or sports or even basic things like doing make-up.
“It makes it all the more important that I’m in the military here in Australia. I’m not just the first, I’m the first of many.”
Corporal Ali, who shares insights into her culture and glimpses of her military life with her 40,600 followers on Instagram, sometimes dreams of marching into Afghanistan with the ADF.
“I’ve always thought about that and what that would be like. I think it would be very bittersweet, emotional and it would be an honour to serve both of the nations,” says the young aviator, who financially supports a school in her homeland.
“I would be going back with more strength and power and at the same time stepping back to my homeland. In a way, if ever the girls or women see me, I want them to know we’re there to protect and serve them.”
At 153cm, she clears the Defence Force’s minimum height by just 1cm. But the diminutive non-commissioned officer has big plans for her future.
“I want to continue giving back. The higher I go, the more I achieve, I want to look back and pull others up, especially children overseas and here,” she says.
“I know that children need just one hope, I just want to be that hope for them.”
That passion for service and her community has seen Corporal Ali become a finalist and winner in the University of Adelaide Rising Star category for the The Advertiser Sunday Mail Sky City Woman of the Year awards, before being crowned as the overall winner.
“This one was a big surprise for me, obviously I wasn’t expecting it” says Corporal Ali.
“Of course, it means a lot because, at the end of the day, I’m just doing what I love, whether that’s in uniform or outside of uniform. To be able to be recognised for that work is obviously a blessing.
“Being a woman is so empowering – we’re multi-taskers, we are go-getters and we are unstoppable.”
In accepting the Woman of the Year honour, Corporal Ali paid tribute to her parents for giving her the opportunity to come to Australia, saying she feels pride every time she puts on the military uniform.
She said she hoped to inspire other young women.
“Never give up and keep fighting. Keep going,” she said.
“I’m most proud of just giving hope to other people. I was given hope by my dad when he came here by boat.
“My mother was the backbone while my father was in Australia. This is for my parents.”
Corporal Ali said she was thankful every day for her life in Australia.
“I always think what my life would have been if I wasn’t here. Every day waking up I’m grateful to live here and the life I get to live here,” she said.
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