Your 2026 Westfield Booragoon Local Hero is:

Jean Coles

Community Collective Hamilton Hill

Caring. Selfless. Dedicated.

Jean Coles has been awarded a $20,000 grant for their organisation, Community Collective Hamilton Hill.

In her late 70s, Jean Coles plays a hands-on role in providing free food and pantry items to families in need, ensuring that no one goes without a meal on the table.

As a volunteer for the Community Collective Hamilton Hill, Jean collects donations, sorts and prepares food, and helps to set up stalls packed with free groceries.

Jean’s support means the organisation can reach up to 3,000 vulnerable people each month. During the week, this is often more than 30 families each day; on Sundays, there are regularly more than 80 families seeking help.

Jean started volunteering after the loss of her husband and now pours her time and energy most days of the week into helping others.

She says, “It gets me out of bed in the morning and keeps me active at the age of 79.”

“I get to be a well-known part of my community and to socialise with my neighbours,” she adds.

Jean goes a long way towards relieving pressures experienced by families in her community, helping them manage life’s uncertainties, food insecurity and cost-of-living challenges.

Jean says, “My endeavour is to always help other people less fortunate."

We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5,000 grant for the organisation they represent

Kristen Hanks

Camp Autism WA

Compassionate. Committed. Inspiring

Weekend camps run by Camp Autism WA offer children with autism and their families relaxation, activities and belonging. Kristen Hanks helps keep these programs going through her role as Treasurer and dedicated camp host. Her experience raising a child with autism, when disability supports were limited, first brought her to the organisation and now motivates her to help other families on the same journey.

Leigh Sinclair

Imagined Futures

Empathetic. Collaborative. Transformative.

Leigh Sinclair unites a range of organisations in her community to create clear, supportive pathways to a better future for vulnerable young people. By bringing together government agencies, not-for-profits and community groups in shared, practical action, she makes a lasting difference to children’s education, their quality of life, mental health and cultural connection.

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

Recognising all our 2026 nominees

View all of the Westfield Booragoon nominees and their organisations.

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2027 nominations now open

Do you know someone making a difference in your community? Tell us in 200 words why they should be a Westfield Local Hero and they could receive a $20,000 grant for their organisation.

Find out more here

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Westfield Local Heroes: A Financial Review award-winning program

Since its inception in 2018, the Westfield Local Heroes program has granted over $11 million to over 1,000 community organisations. In recognition of the program and its social impact, Scentre Group (owner and operator of Westfield destinations in Australia and New Zealand) was recently named as this year’s winner of the Financial Review Sustainability Leaders in the Retail, hospitality, tourism and entertainment category. Read more about the award and the program’s impact here.