Last chance to vote for your Westfield Local Hero

Posted on 9 August, 2019

Monday 12 August marks the last opportunity for Canberrans to cast their vote for their Westfield Local Heroes.

Earlier this year, local communities were called upon to nominate individuals and their affiliated organisations whose work promotes social wellbeing and harmony in their area for the Westfield Local Heroes community recognition and grants program.

A total of 216 finalists from 36 Westfield centres across Australia have been put forward by their local communities and are now in with a chance to receive one of 108 $10,000 grants as voted by the public.

“We … are thrilled to see the amazing support people show for one another in our communities,” said Scentre Group National Community Experience Manager Pam Wilson.

“$10,000 can make a big difference to a community, so we are now calling on the public to determine each centre’s three Westfield Local Heroes.”

With two Westfield centres in Canberra (Westfield Woden and Westfield Belconnen), six worthy locals will be recognised. This year’s finalists represent initiatives and programs that support a range of different community values, opportunities and challenges, including homelessness, at risk youth, domestic violence, cultural awareness and disability support networks.

Hannah Andrevski

Roundabout Canberra

Hannah Andrevski was on maternity leave when she decided to help families going through hard times source essential items.

Despite having her newborn and a toddler to care for, she worked hard to start Roundabout Canberra, redistributing safety-checked car seats, cots and prams as well as linen, clothing and toys. Hannah had no experience running a charity, but she recruited volunteers and helped more than 400 children within her first 12 months.“We believe every child deserves a safe start and every family deserves dignity,” she says.

If Hannah is successful, Roundabout Canberra will invest its grant to on 100 family support packs. Each pack includes about $500 worth of items, such as safety-checked prams, cots, bassinets, car seats and highchairs as well as beautifully presented packs of linen, clothing and toys.

Vote for Hannah here.

Bill Caddey

Belconnen Community Services

Bill Caddey was a primary school teacher for 25 years and strongly believes all children deserve an opportunity to do their best.

As Network Coordinator at Belconnen Community Services, he works with teachers and caseworkers to identify the support families need to help them achieve this. “My role is to bring people together to address needs in our community. The aim is to build a young person’s confidence and skills so they can develop a sense of belonging and in turn be able to make a positive contribution,” says Bill.

If Bill is successful, Belconnen Community Services will use its grant to help fund the Variety Every Chance to Play Program, which sponsors children from vulnerable families to join their mates at local sports teams, which costs $200 a year.

Vote for Bill here.

Thomas Campagna

PARTY Program

After surviving a terrible car crash caused by a drug-affected driver, teenager Thomas TJ Campagna wants to keep other young people safe on our roads. TJ shares his story with other young people through the PARTY Program, a charity that helps school students understand the consequences of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The talks are held at Canberra Hospital, where doctors, nurses and trauma patients help educate the students.

“My mum shares my story on my behalf,” says TJ, who has raised $10,000 for the hospital and PARTY Program through a fund-raiser dinner.

If TJ is successful, the PARTY Program will be able to provide more education sessions.

Vote for TJ here.

Tim Daly

This Is My Brave Australia

Tim Daly’s infectious enthusiasm helps people believe they can do things they haven’t tried before. He uses this quality to reduce the stigma of mental illness by encouraging people to share their lived experience through live theatre events organised by This Is My Brave Australia (TIMBA).

Tim started TIMBA because of the stigma he felt after he gave up his high-powered corporate career because of anxiety and depression and to care for his wife, who has multiple sclerosis (MS). Through expressing themselves and being involved in a collaborative venture, people feel less stigmatised, says Tim.

If Tim is successful, TIMBA will use its grant to hire more venues for more shows. As the organisation is funded only by donations and ticket sales, it has not been able to meet the growing demand. A portion of the funds would also be used to expand its reach through the internet.

Vote for Tim here.

Robert de Castella

Indigenous Marathon Foundation

Marathon great Robert de Castella is proud of his sporting feats but says his greatest achievement has been helping Indigenous Australians. The Commonwealth Games marathon champion and Olympian founded and directs the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. Through its Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) and Deadly Running Groups, which include over 5000 runners, the foundation promotes running for a healthy lifestyle. “Indigenous Australians are significantly disadvantaged compared with other Australians, highlighted by an approximate 10-year gap in life expectancy, lower education levels, unemployment and chronic disease,” says Robert, who was Australian of the year in 1983.

If Robert is successful, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation will host a three-day coaching workshop for IMP graduates and run leaders.

Vote for Robert here.

Kristine Hewett

Philanthropize

Kristine Hewett is working to fill a gap in support for domestic violence and abuse (DVA) survivors. Aware there are many prevention and crisis support services but little in the way of ongoing support, she and her business partner set up. Adamas Nexus, a monthly self-help support group for women after they have passed the crisis period. “Now we want to expand to help more women throughout Canberra and Australia,” Kristine says.

If Kristine is successful, Philanthropize will use the funds to expand Adamas Nexus from one meeting per month to six.

Vote for Kristine here.

Natalie Malcolmson

BPD Awareness

Natalie Malcolmson gave up her public service career in 2016 to care for her husband, who has borderline personality disorder (BPD), a complex and often misunderstood mental illness. She was horrified by the lack of affordable support in ACT, so she sought training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which has improved her and her husband’s quality of life. Natalie also set up BPD Awareness ACT to offer affordable community support.

“Learning DBT skills changes the lives of those with BPD and their families,” says Natalie. “It is an evidence-based treatment for those who are highly suicidal.”

If Natalie is successful, BPD Awareness ACT will use its grant to help fund the cost of hiring a venue for group sessions for a year. The money would also be used to run a course for parents of children with BPD and to pay for community awareness activities.

Vote for Natalie here.

Kristen Pratt

Capital Nordic Walking

Kristen Pratt is on a mission to get people of all ages to improve their health while having fun. She founded Capital Nordic Walking to share her passion for Nordic fitness walking, which involves walking poles and specialised techniques. Kristen has arranged free walks for over 1000 Canberrans, including those with serious illnesses and the frail elderly. The comradery gives people the motivation to make exercise a habit, reduce stress and their risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, she says. “We see the life-changing benefits of Nordic walking every day.”

If Kristen is successful, Capital Nordic Walking will use the funds to cover the cost of developing a much-needed volunteer network, including training, insurance and equipment.

Vote for Kristen here.

Carey Russell

Children’s Tumour Foundation

Carey Russell jumped in to help people with neurofibromatosis after she was diagnosed with the genetic disorder that leads to disfiguring tumours. She has become the primary ACT representative for the Children’s Tumour Foundation, which supports people with the condition and funds research into a cure. As a volunteer, Carey manages fundraising events, supports families online or by phone and has rallied businesses and politicians to increase awareness. “Tumours should never be anyone’s normal,” says Carey, who promotes inclusivity by showing the community how to celebrate difference and rise above one’s circumstances.

If Carey is successful, the Children’s Tumour Foundation will use the funds for its annual family camps which help children with neurofibromatosis and their families feel less stressed and isolated.

Vote for Carey here.

Camille Schloeffel

The STOP Campaign

Camille Schloeffel could have been put off by the cynics who said she was too young and inexperienced to start a student movement against sexual violence. But the 21-year-old Australian National University student persevered, raising a small amount of money to launch the STOP Campaign and raising a lot of awareness. With her team of 25 volunteers, Camille is bringing about cultural change at the university and educating students about consent, becoming an effective bystander and students’ responsibilities to each other.The vision is for Australian university communities to be free from sexual violence and stigmatisation,” says Camille.

If Camille is successful, The STOP Campaign will use its grant for marketing and to produce educational material similar to its popular Revealing Truths & Breaking Stigmas zine and video series which share stories to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of sexual violence.

Vote for Camille here.

Ben Shipard

Marathon Health

Ben Shipard is the kind of volunteer every charity needs. One week he’ll be sharing strategic ideas at a conference, the next he will be cooking at a youth refuge.

Ben’s passion is youth mental health, and he works tirelessly with headspace Canberra to encourage people to seek help if they need it. Through his outreach work, he reduces the stigma of mental illness and helps people recognise mental health issues in themselves and others. Ben often provides a welcoming and non-judgemental first point of contact for people seeking information about headspace.

If Ben is successful, Marathon Health Ltd t/a headspace Canberra will use its grant to help fund educational programs in the local community and to pay for Reference Group representatives to attend events and visit schools to engage with young people.

Vote for Ben here.

Sandy Van Der Toorn

Woden Community Service

Sandra Van Der Toorn goes above and beyond to help isolated, elderly people make new friends. She uses her own car to pick up people, so they don’t miss out on activities she organises in her role as a social group coordinator for Woden Community Service. She utilizes resources that aren’t covered by funding, and, often prepares treats, cakes and salads for clients and visits them in the nursing home with her beautiful therapy dog, Honey, by her side. “We see such lovely results with our group activities, people laughing and dancing and improving their fitness and mobility,” Sandy says.

If Sandy is successful, Woden Community Service will be able to provide more support to the most marginalised group members, including special outings, meals or even a short break away from home.

Vote for Sandy here.

Voting for Westfield Local Heroes closes on Monday 12 August. Each Westfield centre’s three successful grant recipients will be announced on 1 October 2019, with 120 grants and a total of $1.2M awarded across Australia and New Zealand.