Your 2025 Westfield Belconnen Local Hero is:

Margaret O’Donovan

Karinya House for Mothers and Babies

Diligent. Dedicated. Generous.

In the early 1990s, Margaret read about a young pregnant woman living in her car and decided she needed to do something. “I thought this should not be happening in Canberra. I could not imagine having a baby without any support or accommodation,” she says. 

Five years later, after raising $250,000, Margaret co-founded Karinya House - Canberra’s only specialist service for women in crisis or without a home, who are pregnant or parenting a newborn. It has been open ever since, providing safe, stable accommodation and outreach services. In that time, more than 2,800 women have been able to make considerable changes to their lives. 

 But there is always a waiting list, so Margaret continues to strive for change. “Knowing that more women in Canberra need our services is driving us to explore different ways to address the shortage of suitable rental properties,” she says. 

Thanks to Margaret’s dedication to raising the profile of Karinya House it has gone from strength to strength, gathering support from the community, local businesses and the ACT Government.  Over the years, she has contributed countless hours and still volunteers weekly to deliver baby goods to women across Canberra. “I am encouraged every week,” says Margaret. “Watching the young women, we walk alongside, grow in confidence to become wonderful mothers.” 

The $20,000 grant will be used to fund food and essentials for women at Karinya House, educational resources, and support for living costs such as medical and dental bills.

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

Edward Nathan from The Ministry of Food
Edward’s food truck initiative provides hospitality training to disenfranchised young people and ex-offenders in Canberra, giving them pathways to a new life. As well as being a commercial kitchen, Edward’s truck also serves his Malaysian-Indian-Australian fusion food to people struggling to make ends meet through his partnerships with local food banks.

Jason Schmidt from Blind Cricket ACT
As President of Blind Cricket ACT, Jason has transformed the club into a national-level team and a vibrant community. He raises awareness and breaks down barriers through community engagement and local and state partnerships. Beyond cricket, Jason’s initiatives help more than 2,000 people with disabilities access sport, education, and employment opportunities across the ACT.

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Recognising all our 2025 nominees

View all of the Westfield Belconnen nominees and their organisations.