Your 2025 Westfield Burwood Local Hero is:

Dean Laws

Parkinson’s NSW Limited

Inspirational. Relentless. Adaptive.

Dean is one of an estimated 400 residents of Burwood living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a movement and mood disorder with no known cure. He wakes up with pain every day, yet since his diagnosis, he has raised more than $166,000 for Parkinson’s NSW (PNSW), a non-for-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of those with the condition. 

Dean’s support is needed now more than ever. Global experts have described the growth of the condition as the ‘Parkinson’s Pandemic’, and in Burwood alone, the number of sufferers has been increasing by 4% year on year. Dean’s motivation comes from his own experience with PNSW, as well as his desire to demonstrate that people with Parkinson’s can lead fulfilling lives. 

“PNSW gave me my life back!” he explains. “When I contacted PNSW in 2019, they knew exactly how to help, enabling me to access the therapies I needed to combat this challenging disease.”  
Ever since experiencing health improvements, Dean has been helping other patients and their families by fundraising for PNSW with his ‘Dean Team’ – a group that trains together for special sporting events – and by sharing his own journey of exercise.  

 “I don’t want anyone to waste the five years that I did before discovering the benefits of exercise,” says Dean. 
 “Our mission is to help others with PD lead active and fulfilling lives.” 

The $20,000 grant will be used to fund staff for the Parkinson’s NSW 1800 InfoLine service, which offers support and guides patients to resources in their communities.

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

Jason Juretic from Stepping Stone House

Jason leads Stepping Stone House, a charity supporting homeless youth. Drawing from his own difficult past, he provides care to children and teenagers who’ve experienced homelessness and instability for them to gain their independence. Over 10 years, he’s grown the charity to support 78 people, and continues to advocate for societal and system change.

Nada Andric from The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation

As a GP with the Rev Bill Crews Foundation, Nada provides free healthcare to people facing homelessness, trauma, and financial hardship in Ashfield. She treats more than 100 patients per week with complex needs, while also advocating for health equity and systemic change. Nada is a champion of the right to healthcare for everyone.

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

Recognising all our 2025 nominees

View all of the Westfield Burwood nominees and their organisations.