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I moved to Australia in 2011, stepping into a life shaped by two worlds — my Indian roots and my Australian home.

Living between cultures shaped much more than my identity. It taught me about belonging. About the importance of being understood without having to explain every part of who you are. And about how powerful it can be when someone simply sees you, listens to you, and makes space for you to be yourself.
 

From a young age, I have always been deeply connected to people. I was naturally curious about emotions, relationships and the stories behind what people say — and what they sometimes leave unsaid. Over the years, through my own experiences and the experiences shared by people around me, I developed a deeper understanding of resilience, mental wellbeing and the quiet strength people carry through everyday life.
 

In 2020, I experienced therapy myself. It was an important part of my own journey, but it also made me recognise something that stayed with me: support does not always feel culturally relevant or truly reflective of the person sitting in front of you.
 

That experience changed the questions I was asking.
 

What does meaningful support look like when culture matters?
What happens when people have spaces where they don't have to translate their experiences to be understood?
And what could it look like to create something that feels genuinely welcoming, familiar and human?
 

My journey has never been completely linear. Moving between India and Australia, navigating different cultural expectations and growing through my own experiences have all shaped the way I see people and community today.
 

But one of the biggest shifts came through seeing my parents' journey differently.
 

As I grew older and reconnected more deeply with them, I began to understand the experiences behind their strength — the sacrifices, the adjustment, the changes that come with migration, and the things they often carried quietly.
 

I also began to notice something else.
 

There were very few spaces where people like my parents could simply come together, speak openly, connect with others who understood their experience, and feel like they belonged.

That was where the idea for Aura began to take shape.
 

For years, I carried a vision of creating something meaningful — something grounded in warmth, dignity and genuine human connection.
 

In 2026, that vision became Aura Social Foundation.
 

Learning so I can do more

My commitment to understanding people and supporting communities has also led me to study Psychology.

I am currently studying Psychology because I want to deepen my understanding of human behavior, emotions and mental wellbeing, and continue learning how I can better support the people and communities Aura works with.
 

For me, learning is not separate from the work — it is part of it.
 

I want Aura to grow alongside my own knowledge, experience and understanding, while always recognising the importance of professional boundaries and appropriate support when people need more than a community program can provide.
 

Aura was created with a simple belief:

Everyone deserves to feel like they belong.

We create culturally inclusive, non-clinical spaces where people can connect, express themselves, learn about their emotional wellbeing and simply be themselves — without judgement, labels or the pressure to have everything figured out.
 

What began with a personal vision is becoming something much bigger: a growing community and a movement toward more culturally meaningful connection and wellbeing.
 

I don't believe Aura needs to have all the answers.
 

I believe it needs to keep creating spaces where people feel comfortable asking the questions, sharing their stories, meeting others and remembering that they don't have to navigate everything alone.

Aura is only the beginning.
 

And I am committed to growing it with intention, purpose and heart — reaching more communities, continuing to learn, and building something that can make a lasting difference.

— Kompal Verma
Founder & Secretary, Aura Social Foundation