A Bangladeshi student who stabbed her Melbourne homestay host in a terror act inspired by Islamic State will spend at least 31 years behind bars.

Judge Lesley Taylor today sentenced Momena Shoma, 26, to 42 years in prison for an act the bench labelled “an outrage to our democracy”.

Shoma admitted to engaging in a terror act when she stabbed Roger Singaravelu's neck while he dozed beside his five-year-old daughter at Mill Park on February 9, 2018.

Momena Shoma arrives at the Supreme Court in Melbourne today. (AAP)

Momena Shoma becomes the first woman to be sentenced for directly carrying out a terrorist attack in Australia. (9News)

Entering the court dressed in a niqab, Shoma was asked by the court to remove her headdress for the purpose of confirming her identity.

Shoma, then 24, had been in Australia on a student visa for just a week when she attacked Mr Singaravelu in the name of violent jihad, using a 25cm kitchen knife.

"Your actions sent waves of horror through the Australian community, but they do not make you a martyr ... they make you a criminal," Judge Taylor told the Victorian Supreme Court.

Maha Singaravelu (left) and Roger Singaravelu. Roger was the victim of the attack by Moena Shoma. (AAP)

The young woman was enrolled in a masters of linguistics at La Trobe University but had been looking to attack someone since arriving in Australia.

“You had absolutely no intention of studying,” Judge Lesley Taylor said.

“Your sole purpose for entering this country was to carry out a terrorist attack.”

She told police she had practised the attack by stabbing a pillow while staying with a different family but chose to attack Mr Singaravelu because he was vulnerable.

Justice Taylor said Shoma has shown no remorse.

"Indeed the only regret you have uttered is you did not succeed ... that sentence is despicable," she said.

Her victim and his family, "generous enough to open their home to a stranger, now suffers physically, emotionally and financially", Justice Taylor said.

Momena Shoma was sentenced to 42 years for the non-fatal attack on her homestay host. (AAP)

Mr Singaravelu has previously told the court he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder since the attack, took a cocktail of medication and used alcohol to try to forget what happened to him.

“I relive the attack, the look on her face and the blood splattered on the wall,” Mr Singaravelu said in his victim impact statement.

His daughter also suffered from PTSD, flashbacks and nightmares.

Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Mr Singaravelu said he was blessed to have survived the attack.

"I should be in a wooden box or in a wheelchair," he told reporters.

He implored the Australian government to better vet student visa applications.