We are excited to announce your 2022 successful Westfield Local Hero for Bondi Junction.

The successful Westfield Local Heroes organisation, will receive a grant of $20,000 to help them continue to grow their impact in the local community. Westfield will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million.

In early 2023, we will open nominations for the 2023 Westfield Local Heroes program, so start thinking about those people in your communities who make a difference.

Your 2022 Westfield Bondi Junction Local Hero is:

Josh Oshlack

The Rhythm Village
Passionate. Inclusive. Empathetic

Empathetic Josh Oshlack uses his love of music to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of hundreds of children and others with special needs in the eastern suburbs and other parts of Sydney.

As the founder of The Rhythm Village, he runs music workshops and music therapy sessions for about 100 children at schools and other venues in the Bondi area every week.

The participants improve their physical and emotional wellbeing by singing, dancing and performing together.

Josh is motivated by inclusiveness and a strong desire to help others. His sessions build self-esteem, encourage creative expression, help mood regulation and teach participants how to sequence ideas.

His work brings a smile to the faces of participants, including those who experience ongoing physical pain. In addition, families see a shift in ability and joy that has a ripple effect on the broader community.

Josh has a fabulous way of helping people of all abilities and ages express themselves, feel included and feel comfortable. He also shares his knowledge by creating learning programs for special education teachers.

“I love helping people. I love seeing the connection music brings to a group and the smiles it brings with my positive energy,” Josh says.

The Rhythm Village will put the grant towards funding workshops for children with special needs at Rose Bay Secondary College, The Friendship Circle, Vaucluse Primary School and Wairoa School.

We also congratulate our finalists who will receive a $5,000 grant for the organisation they represent, and we thank them for their incredible contribution to the local community.

Chanel Contos from Teach Us Consent
Courageous Chanel Contos has changed the sexual consent narrative in the Eastern Suburbs and across Australia, helping sexual assault survivors find their voice and instigating education reform. Following Chanel’s Teach Us Consent petition, consent education will be mandatory in Australian schools, starting early and continuing until Year 10.

Rozanne Green from Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club
Energetic Rozanne Green has put her heart and soul into giving older locals an opportunity to get out and about. A long-standing Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club member, Rozanne launched the Silver Salties walk and talk group in 2020, providing people aged 65 plus with COVID-safe exercise and social connection.

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

Recognising all our 2022 nominees

View all of the Westfield Bondi Junction nominees and their organisation