Ms Kaushaliya Virjibhai Vaghela is a former Member of Parliament (MP) in Victoria, Australia and a respected leader known for her contributions to public service, multicultural representation, and community advocacy. Her journey—from a small city in India to becoming a pioneering political figure in Australia—reflects resilience, determination, and a strong commitment to serving society while empowering multicultural communities.
In 2018, Ms Vaghela made history by becoming the first Indian-born Member of Parliament elected to the Victorian Parliament, representing the Western Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council. She was also the first Indian-born Hindu MP to enter any Parliament in Australia. Her election marked an important milestone for the Indian diaspora and multicultural communities across the country, symbolising the growing participation of migrant communities in Australia’s democratic institutions. On the day she was sworn into Parliament, she took her oath on the Bhagavad Gita and wore her wedding sari, proudly representing her cultural heritage and identity.
In 2022, Ms Vaghela further strengthened her commitment to political participation by establishing the political party “New Democrats” in Victoria, becoming the first person of Indian origin to register a political party in Australia. This milestone highlights her dedication to strengthening democratic participation and encouraging broader representation in public life.
Born in Jamnagar in the Indian state of Gujarat, India, Ms Vaghela was raised in a family that valued education, discipline, and integrity. He parents’ early influences shaped Ms Vaghela’s lifelong commitment to equality, justice, and community service.
Ms Vaghela demonstrated strong academic ability from an early age. She completed her schooling at St Ann’s High School in Jamnagar and later pursued higher education in science. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the prestigious St Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad, where she ranked first in her subject. She later completed her Master of Science from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1994, building a strong academic foundation for her future career in science and research.
In 1998, Ms Vaghela moved to Australia as an international student to undertake a Master of Applied Science (Research) at RMIT University in Melbourne. Starting life in a new country without established support networks presented many challenges, but through perseverance and determination she successfully established her professional career.
After completing her studies in Melbourne, Ms Vaghela worked as a Medical Scientist at the Northern Hospital in Melbourne, and later as anti-cancer research scientist at Monash University. Over the years, her professional career expanded across multiple sectors including scientific research, academia, corporate risk and compliance management, business, government administration, and politics. This diverse experience gave her a broad understanding of governance, policy development, and the challenges faced by multicultural communities.
Her commitment to community service became particularly evident through her advocacy for the Indian business community in Melbourne. When re-development plans threatened the livelihoods of traders in the Little India precinct in Dandenong, she played a leading role in uniting affected businesses through the Little India Association, serving as its secretary and spokesperson. Through community advocacy and engagement, she worked to raise awareness about the challenges faced by small business owners and emphasised the cultural and economic importance of the precinct in Melbourne.
Her grassroots activism earned her widespread recognition within the Indian and broader multicultural communities in Melbourne. She was appointed in 2016 as a Ministerial Advisor to the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, becoming the first Indian woman to hold such a role within the Victorian Government. In this position, she worked closely with multicultural organisations to promote social inclusion, cultural engagement, and community participation.
During this time, she also contributed to policy initiatives that increased financial support for multicultural community organisations. For the first time, millions of dollars in state government grants were allocated to Indian religious institutions strengthening the presence of Indian culture within Australia’s multicultural society.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Vaghela played an important role in supporting international students and members of the Indian diaspora who were facing significant challenges. Her advocacy contributed to the Victorian Government’s $45 million support package for international students in Victoria. She also raised concerns in Parliament regarding the severe health crisis in India during COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to the Victorian Government providing humanitarian assistance worth more than $41 million, including the donation of 1,000 ventilators and essential medical equipment to India.
Throughout her career, Ms Kaushaliya Vaghela has remained committed to empowering migrant communities and encouraging greater representation of multicultural voices in public leadership. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and her daughter and she continues to mentor community members and encourage greater participation of migrants in politics and policymaking at all levels of government in Victoria.