Running on former mayor Rod Kendell's Supporting Diversity ticket, she advocates for inclusivity and a more sustainable city.

Mrs Mathew was born and raised in New Delhi, India, where she practiced nursing before moving to Dublin, Ireland in 2005, where her family resided for eight years.

In 2012, they then moved to Australia and immediately settled into Wagga, a very different experience after living in two major capital cities.

"This was what I needed, I just needed a calm place where I could see my kids being brought up in the best possible way, so we decided if it is in Australia, we're moving to Wagga, there is nowhere else that has attracted us so far," she said.

Mrs Mathew and her husband currently raise their two daughters in the house they built while also working as a clinical nurse specialist at the Calvary Hospital, which she has done so for nine years now.

She has also become a proactive citizen, having been elected as vice-president of the ladies group Women of Work and becoming a member of the Wagga Malayali Association.

In terms of council, she argues that listening to the multicultural communities has never been more important than ever, having closely observed the city's diversity grow rapidly over the past nine years she has lived here.

"It has become so multicultural that I think everyone's voices need to start being heard no matter what, so here I feel I can be that stepping stone," she said.

"When we move away from our country, we leave a lot of things behind, like our tradition which our kids are not growing up with.

"So if we can get some funds to get some teachers who can teach some classical dances, music, and if there is someone to teach the language ... I think that would be great.

"Diversity is the inclusiveness of the whole society no matter what.

"I would think for those coming from a multicultural background, we need to talk about and resolve certain things that will help them feel at home."

Mrs Mathew wants to see Wagga become the best it can be by also improving the city's infrastructure and supporting local businesses.

"The roads over the last few months, even years, have been appalling, especially around the places I work and come across every day, they're never fixed," she said.

"We have to make sure our Wagga is more sustainable because we don't want people to leave since it is such a good place to be, and joblessness is another problem that comes under this point."

A greater focus on youth mental health, a topic inspired by conversations with her own children, rounds out the three biggest issues she hopes to resolve if elected.

"There needs to be more helplines and more counselling options available that we can provide, so our youngsters and also grown-ups who may struggle at this point of time due to various reasons," she said.

"One mainly being the pandemic."

In the lead up to this year's election, The Daily Advertiser has profiled the candidates looking to secure a spot on Wagga City Council.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: