Priyan Rajaram
heart of the organisation is community connection. That became especially evident during the pandemic, when international students at Western Sydney University struggled to afford food.
“ We realised there were so many students who couldn’ t meet their needs. The church was running a breakfast program and asked if we could help with dinner once a week. So, we started serving community dinners every Tuesday.”
That small act of kindness has since grown into a weekly tradition, spreading to universities in Adelaide, Flinders, and across South Australia. During the COVID lockdowns, Karma Kitchen even helped stranded students find temporary accommodation and offered them a safe place to stay. The outreach to the university still continues and it’ s of huge benefit to the students for several reasons.“ While they eat, councillors sit with them and talk about how they’ re coping,” Priyan says.“ It’ s not just about the meal, it’ s about being seen, heard, and cared for.”
The group also partners with Gamble Aware, a government organisation that provides support for those struggling with gambling issues.
“ They’ ve been one of our biggest supporters,” Priyan says.“ They help us reach people anonymously, anyone can contact us with an address, and we’ ll deliver food or groceries directly. No questions asked.”
Over the years, Karma Kitchen’ s volunteers have delivered more than 20,000 meals annually across Australia, mostly in Sydney, but extending to regional and rural areas as well.
From fire and flood relief efforts to elder meal deliveries, Karma Kitchen’ s response is always swift and heartfelt. During the devastating bushfires of 2019, the team raised $ 20,000 for the Rural Fire Service and local State Emergency Service( SES) teams. At one of the stations where they were serving food, they noticed that the volunteers were wearing wet uniforms.
“ The volunteers were out there helping in wet uniforms, we brought food and donated a dryer and washing machine so they could dry their clotahes between shifts.”
Karma Kitchen has also partnered with Meals on Wheels to deliver cooked meals to seniors facing restrictions or isolation.
“ We deliver weekly or twice-weekly meals,” Priyan says.“ It’ s not just about food, it’ s about showing up and caring.”
He emphasises that the volunteers come from all walks of life, students, parents, and professional people, and pointed out that kindness doesn’ t have to be grand gestures.
“ Sometimes we just provide water or snacks for police officers at events,” he says.“ Small acts can be big acts of kindness. We’ re not in competition with anyone. If another organisation is doing good work, we’ ll support them. Our goal is to make sure no one gets left behind.”
That spirit of collaboration recently led
Karma Kitchen volunteers supply meals at Western Sydney University every week.
to the group’ s biggest breakthrough yet. When Dr Andrew Charlton, the Federal Member for Parramatta and Assistant Minister for Science and Technology, learned about Karma Kitchen’ s work, he reached out to help.
“ He walked past one of our gazebos and asked about us,” Priyan recalls.“ Then we met a few times, and soon after, the Department of Home Affairs called to say he wanted to support us. He even spoke to the Prime Minister about our work.”
That conversation resulted in them being awarded a grant for $ 2.4 million in government support to establish a permanent Karma Kitchen facility in Parramatta.
“ It’ s the first time we’ ve received support like this. We’ ll finally have a kitchen and restaurant where people can come in, eat a hot meal, and leave with a full stomach. Parramatta Mission will be helping us to figure out what we need, the government will fund the kitchen and utensils. Volunteers will cook and serve food. It’ s a dream come true.”
Behind every hour Priyan spends volunteering, there’ s a strong, supportive family cheering him on. His wife often juggles her busy schedule to make sure their 15-year-old son is cared for while Priyan serves the community.
“ She’ s amazing,” he says.“ She tells me,‘ You’ re doing something for a good cause, I’ ll look after our son.’ When she travels for work, to South Africa, India, or New Zealand, she still helps. I couldn’ t do this without her.”
For Priyan, the work never feels like a burden. Whether he’ s playing cricket in Parramatta, mentoring young volunteers, or coordinating meal deliveries, he sees it all as part of a bigger picture.
“ Life is too short to have hatred toward anyone,” he says.“ It’ s not about wealth, it’ s about what impression you leave behind.” And as Karma Kitchen continues to grow, serving tens of thousands of meals each year and inspiring countless others to give back, that love continues to ripple outward one warm meal at a time.
Therapy with a musical beat
by Maryann Callaghan
The magic of music isn’ t just in how it sounds; it’ s in how it makes us feel, respond and connect.
For the neurodivergent or physically challenged, it can also be a form of expressive communication – with rhythm replacing words and melodies opening conversations they may not have otherwise had.
“ I truly believe music lessons and music therapy are for everyone,” musician guitarist Glenn Hobbs of Stormer Music Penrith said.
“ Through music we connect and empower, express creativity and enrich the space in our lives.”
With studios across Sydney, including Castle Hill, Penrith, Blacktown, Blaxland and Parramatta, Stormer Music offers traditional tuition as well as a music therapy program.
It’ s a western Sydney success story, created by brothers CEO Phil and CFO Joel Stormer who wanted to create a music school they always wanted to go to. A beautiful place with dedicated spaces where people can learn to find their rhythm, learn to sing or play an instrument.
Stormer’ s music therapy program is a research-based, NDIS-recognised service that uses music as a tool for healing and communication. Delivered by qualified music therapists, these sessions support people with autism, mental health conditions, physical or developmental challenges, or anyone simply seeking emotional balance.
“ I saw the profound impact music can have on my second day of working here,” Glenn said.
“ A student with dysregulated behaviour parted with their carer and entered one of the studios and music immediately changed them, gave them joy, a creativity, a skill where they can learn and progress – I knew then and there I was a part of something pretty amazing.”
He went to explain that people with neurodiverse backgrounds, autism, an acquired brain injury or physical disability work with therapists, which allows them to connect and express themselves through music.
“ They engage and connect with drums, playing a beat along with a therapist. We have intervention-based training, where a frustrated person is referred by a speech pathologist and learns singing which helps them with speech sounds.
“ We also have non-verbal therapy where the participant may not talk with the therapist but will make sounds along with the music establishing a connection through the enjoyment of music.
“ We are always looking for the best outcomes for each student.”
Penrith features 12 studios, where individuals, bands and ensembles can learn music or receive therapy. They also feature a collab area where musicians can gain extra skills working with one another, instead of one-on-one.
Glenn, who has played the guitar since he was 12, is Stormer’ s team support and sales manager. He’ s performed in orchestral musicals, alongside Pete Murray, with Keith Urban’ s producer and just completed the School of Rock The Musical by the Penrith Musical Comedy Company.
“ It’ s important to be active in music,” he said.
“ There’ s the power of music, the creative outlet, that helps you relax and excel as a musician. Then there’ s the therapy of music for healing and its power to connect.”
There’ s also another lesson to be learned through music as Glenn explains.
“ Anyone has an ability for a musical hobby – for relaxing, their mental health and recalibrating – especially in a world of so many distractions and screens.
“ Screen time develops a short-term attention span. Music is a long journey where you engage and concentrate, music is better than coding for the brain because you learn dedication to practise through performing and learning new skills.
“ Musicians make good employees for businesses, because a skill set is built into them with critical thinking.”
Glenn Hobbs in the hallway of Stormer Music which features a striking mural by Penrith artist Shannon Boyd. And, you can learn music at any age.“ Take 86-year-old Doreen. Her carer drops her off every week and she learns jazz piano. Incredible!”
Music therapy is now very common in hospitals, cancer wards, nursing homes and retirement villages and“ especially in dementia wards” Glenn noted.
“ Music uses a different part of the brain, it switches you on, you may not speak but you will start singing. Singalongs transform people who sit in a state of quiet most of the time.”
If you’ re interested in learning more about the power of music in your life, a carer or support worker, you can find more information about Stormer Music’ s programs online at stormermusic. com. au.
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 56 // NOVEMBER 2025 7