Announcing your 2024 Westfield Local Hero

We are excited to announce Kelly Pudge from Helping Hands Mission Op Shop as your 2024 Westfield Airport West Local Hero!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Kelly at Helping Hands Mission Op Shop to continue to grow their impact in the local community.

The 2024 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 125 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totaling $AUD1.24 million to support local communities.

Nominations for the 2025 Westfield Local Heroes program are open now. If you know someone who's making a positive impact, nominate them as a Westfield Local Hero - nominate here.

Your 2024 Westfield Airport West local Hero is

Kelly Pudge

Helping Hands Mission Op Shop

Bubbly. Caring. Inclusive.

Kelly Pudge is the community engagement manager at Helping Hands Mission Op Shop, a charity supporting needy Victorian families. With her warm and inclusive approach, Kelly has created a safe, family-like environment at the Helping Hands retail shop where proceeds fund their food pantry and community kitchen. "I'm motivated by seeing the difference I can make in someone's life," Kelly says. "That could mean helping to put food on a person's table or just recognising someone by name who normally feels socially isolated."

In total, Helping Hands Airport West has 130 dedicated volunteers ranging from 17 to 89 years of age, and each share their unique time and skills to support this cause. "If people with disabilities want to volunteer in their community, they should be able to," Kelly says. "The community benefits outweigh any extra work that's required. If I can make a difference by supporting a volunteer role, I'll do it happily."

Kelly created and oversees the Assisted Volunteers program. The program ensures active engagement for all abilities and caters for 30+ special needs young adults and their carers to volunteer each week.

Because of Kelly, every member of her team feels needed and celebrated, and each knows they are a very important part of the Helping Hands volunteer family.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities. The finalist with the most community votes is the Westfield Airport West Local Hero for 2024, receiving a $20,000 grant for the organisation they represent. Helping Hands Mission Op Shop will use the grant will fund the refitting of a portable building to become a new Assisted Volunteers Hub.

We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent...

Giuseppina (Josie) Salvatore from Special Olympics Melbourne West

Giuseppina Salvatore, known as Josie, is the sports coordinator for Special Olympics Melbourne West. She empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports, facilitating training sessions and competitions. Her dedication has created a close-knit community, inspiring parents, siblings and carers. Josie’s commitment positively influences hundreds of athletes and their families across Victoria.

Nicole Troiani from Big Group Hug

Nicole Troiani supports disadvantaged children and their families as the supervisor of Big Group Hug’s Airport West Hub. Nicole supports a team of volunteers in sorting and distributing essential aid to over 100 children monthly. Under Nicole’s care, operations have excelled, allowing the team to keep up with increasing demand.

If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 13 11 14