07/06/2026
Mala Mehta OAM was born in the state of Haryana, India. Later, in 1983, she migrated to Australia with her family. After living in Australia for several years, she became deeply aware of the importance of preserving her cultural roots. In 1987, she founded the first Hindi school, which later became known as one of the best schools. For many years, she worked with the NSW Department of Education & Community Languages Schools Program and also with the Indo-Aust Bal Bharati Vidyalaya Hindi School (IABBV), where she served in various roles such as teacher, coordinator, curriculum development, and curriculum advisor. She played an important role in Hindi education in Australia.
For her contributions to community service through the promotion of Hindi language and culture, in 2006 she became the first Indian woman to receive the Order of Australia Medal (OAM). In 2015, she was also honoured by the Indian government with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. In addition, the Women’s Shed Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Inc. awarded her the title of “Woman of the Year” in recognition of her social service. In 2019, she also represented Australia at the Women’s Shed International Conference in New Zealand and worked to provide a platform for women and youth globally. In 2024, she received the Local Woman of the Year award for her contribution to social, cultural, educational, and community activities, which reflects her continuous dedication.
