From promoting bone marrow donation awareness to leading mental health workshops and supporting communities through the COVID-19 pandemic, these women of Indian heritage are among many who are working to give back and enhance community health and wellbeing.
Prerna Pahwa
Though she comes from an IT background, Brisbane-based Prerna Pahwa has found deep purpose in running her volunteer-led initiative, Simply Humans – Without Capes.
The not-for-profit, which she founded in Australia, is dedicated to raising awareness about blood cancer and helping people find life-saving bone marrow donor matches.
Prerna Pahwa (3rd from Right) with her team of volunteers. Credit: Supplied by Prerna Pahwa
“Connecting people to a cause isn’t always easy, but we’ve seen that compassion runs deep,” Prerna says. “Often, people reach out when they’ve been personally affected.”
Her motivation is deeply personal.
Prerna began volunteering after losing her cousin to cancer—a loss that opened her eyes to the widespread lack of awareness around cancer and bone marrow transplants, especially in South Asian and Southeast Asian communities.
“That’s what drives us—to make sure more people understand what’s at stake and how they can help,” she says.
Nishi Puri
With the support of a dedicated network of volunteers across the state, Nishi Puri’s organisation, the Multicultural Association of Canberra (MAC), has worked closely with local communities to raise awareness during the pandemic.
“During COVID-19, our organisation shared information to help prevent the spread of the virus and promote better care for those affected,” says Nishi Puri, MAC President, in an interview with SBS Hindi.
Beyond its pandemic efforts, the group has also been active in supporting community wellbeing—running mental health awareness sessions and even hosting food workshops in collaboration with a local nutritionist.
Nishi Puri (R) receiving an award for promoting inclusion and diversity in Canberra. Credit: Supplied by Nishi Puri
“For me, health really is wealth,” she says.
“I’ve become so focused on it that I’ve been involved in cervical cancer awareness campaigns, and I’ve helped run workshops to teach our community how to access affordable medications through the Medicare system.”
She believes volunteering is especially important for women in the Indian community.
Saleha Singh
Melbourne-based Saleha Singh, from the Multicultural Women’s Alliance Against Female Violence (MWAAFV)—a community welfare organisation supporting victims of family violence—says she began volunteering shortly after arriving in Australia.
Melbourne-based Saleha Singh, a volunteer, works with community organisations to support women. Credit: Credit: Supplied by Saleha Singh
“We see a range of mental health issues—from domestic violence to the challenges international students face, and even trauma from distressing incidents, including drownings, that some people experience here.”
Singh says she hopes her support will inspire others to pay it forward and help those in need—but she humbly feels like just "a drop in the ocean."
Dipti Talaulikar
Canberra-based Dipti Talaulikar is the founder of Sakhi Inc, a women organisation that brings together hundreds of members united in their mission to raise awareness about physical and mental health—particularly among women affected by family and domestic violence.
Drawing on her medical background, Dipti says she’s able to approach sensitive mental health topics with empathy and understanding, especially in communities where such conversations are often difficult.
Dipti Talaulikar is Founder and President of Sakhi Inc in Canberra. Credit: Supplied by Dipti Talaulikar
“My goal was to create a safe space for women going through these struggles. That’s been the heart of Sakhi’s mission. The name itself means ‘a friend’ in Hindi—and that’s exactly what we strive to do by creating those bonds.”
“We understand the cultural nuances better,” she adds. “Whether it’s supporting someone experiencing family and domestic violence or contributing to health initiatives—our involvement makes a real difference.”
You can also tune in to SBS Hindi at 5 pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app , or stream from our website.
