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Thirteen years ago, Sneha KC came to Canberra from Nepal to pursue a career as a geriatric nurse. Coming from a developing country, Canberra appeared perfect on the surface, and the people were warm and accepting – but working as a nurse, Sneha says she saw how little the ACT Government did to improve people’s lives, and how people wanted a better system where they felt heard.

Sneha, one of the Independents for Canberra candidates for Yerrabi, says the healthcare system is understaffed and overburdened: doctors and nurses are burning out, exhausted by constantly trying to do the work of two people, and leaving their jobs sooner than expected. In hospital emergency departments, patients wait overnight, in pain, with broken arms, to see a doctor. Seniors wait months for a health assessment to get their care package; elderly couples travel to Sydney for treatment, because services are limited in Canberra; and pensioners put off seeing doctors because they cannot afford out-of-pocket costs. These problems, Sneha says, are not a reflection on healthcare workers’ dedication or expertise, but a consequence of systemic shortcomings in governance.

Another example: Sneha petitioned her MLAs to fix the street lights in her suburb; it was dangerous to walk home after dark.

“There are a lot of imperfections that affect people’s lives,” Sneha said.

As a Canberran, Sneha felt she could not stand by; she had to act.

“Seeing all this dissatisfaction, people suffering and people feeling unheard, people who are vulnerable not having any voice, made me think: if I am standing here and I can see this, I should be able to do something about it. I’ve always been a person who wanted to have a larger impact for humankind… I am in this position where I can voice [my opinion], so that means I should be giving back to the community and giving back to people, so I can be the voice for them.”

That is why Sneha is running for Independents for Canberra, a platform supporting community independents who want to deliver better outcomes for the ACT, following the example of Senator David Pocock and other independents at the 2022 federal election.

Sneha and the eight other candidates are not professional politicians, although Sneha is studying public policy at the University of Canberra, and her parents were politicians. She is also used to being in the public eye; in Nepal, she hosted health awareness TV shows, and acted in music videos and television commercials.

But that is one of the Independents’ strengths: they are genuine, committed, unbeholden to factions or party machines, have experience of the world outside the political bubble, are elected directly by the community they represent, and are answerable to the people.

“We do not hold a party line,” Sneha says. “We all come from different walks of life. We have seen at the grassroots level what the problems are surrounding people in their everyday lives. We can freely advocate for what we see, and how we want these systems and policies changed. The biggest strength that we have is that, under the umbrella of Independents for Canberra, we are only going to advocate what is needed for the communities.”

Thomas Emerson, Independents for Canberra’s founder and candidate for Kurrajong, said Independents for Canberra was privileged to endorse Sneha.

“Sneha KC brings a unique, authentic voice to politics grounded in her experience as a registered nurse who migrated to Australia from Nepal over a decade ago. She has a strong presence, brimming with empathy and a desire to bring people together… We share her belief in a more compassionate, more connected society, and want to see her play the role she’s ready to play in building a healthier community in Yerrabi.”

Indeed, empathy is one of Sneha’s biggest values – not, she says, a word heard a lot in politics.

“Being able to connect with people is very powerful,” Sneha said. “I’m a person with integrity. I’m a person who has always stood up for people who don’t have a voice.”

As a nurse, Sneha said, she advocates for people who are unwell or who cannot express themselves; as a politician, she wants to advocate for the homeless and for victim-survivors, as well as for patients and seniors.

“My decision to run for office is motivated by having seen Canberrans waiting in crowded emergency rooms for hours; seniors lacking essential support to live a quality life; members of our community suffering gender-based violence (which is prevalent and getting worse); and the stark realities of homelessness and the mental health crisis.”

Canberra, Sneha believes, is lashed by a scourge of loneliness, contributing to mental illness; she wants to create a connected community where neighbours, young families, and old people can have great relationships.

In her own electorate, Yerrabi, Sneha hears concerns about the tripping hazard posed by broken, uneven footpaths; the lack of parking; and traffic noise and congestion. Its growing population needs a hospital close by, while small business struggles to sustain itself, since there are not enough government buildings in Gungahlin for them to thrive.

But the government does not consult the community when it makes policy, and its approach in sectors like healthcare is insufficient, Sneha believes.

“What the government is doing is a Band-Aid solution,” she said. “A lot of short-term fixes and short-term policies that only cater for specific things, but not as a holistic system.

“The government needs to look into problems proactively rather than reactively. There needs to be more assessment of what the problems are.”

The Independents would ensure that the government listened to people, consulted the community, and developed evidence-based solutions, Sneha maintains.

Meanwhile, the ACT Government’s recent Budget announcements and election commitments seem insubstantial.

“These are all promises and not enough delivery,” Sneha said. “That is why a lot of people are feeling that it’s time we change the government or have a crossbench that can hold the government accountable.”

The election is a little over 110 days away, and Sneha feels confident. The public response has been positive, she said.

“People who come and talk to me are hopeful that things will change this October, because a lot of people are feeling that nothing is being done. The government has been in power for 23 years; it feels stagnant; we have stopped seeing the changes that the communities and people need; people are saying that needs to change.”

Since her candidature was announced, women from different cultures have thanked Sneha for representing people like them.

“I thought it was only for me trying to do what is needed for vulnerable people,” Sneha said. “I didn’t realise the impact I was actually having on women from different cultural backgrounds.”

Nevertheless, Sneha observes, a lot of people feel disconnected, even despairing, because they feel they are not being heard. She urges them to have hope.

“Every individual has power, and when that power is united, we can create changes. Please understand that you hold the power to change the system if it is not working for you, so don’t lose hope. There are people in your community who are working tirelessly to change [the system] for you, so have some hope for yourself and for the future.

“I’m one of you; I am beside you; I am with you.”

“I am for you, I am by you and I am one of you as I come from the grassroots.”