Culture, Community and Creative Healing: In Conversation with Piyali Somaia

Chats Over Chai

Chats Over Chai
Culture, Community and Creative Healing: In Conversation with Piyali Somaia
Feb 26, 2026
Australia India Institute

In the latest episode of Chats over Chai, Research Fellow Alice Garner sits down with Piyali Somaia, founder of Kahini, for a conversation on culture, community and creative pathways to wellbeing. 

Piyali reflects on her family’s migration journey to Australia and how it has shaped her work through Kahini, an organisation that brings together art, health, community and collaboration to deliver innovative solutions. Alice and Piyali delve into how creative spaces can support newly arrived and diverse communities, and why art is such a powerful tool for wellbeing and connection.