Presenting your 2022 Westfield Local Hero

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

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 Burwood Local Hero is:

Steve Dresler

What Ability Foundation
Passionate. Energetic. Kind

Inspirational Steve Dresler makes swimming, bush walks, a trip to the movies and countless other community activities possible for disabled people who often miss out.

When injury derailed his NRL career at the age of 21, Steve poured his efforts into disability support. As a former aide at a school for children with Autism, he knew the positive power of an outing and founded What Ability Foundation – an NDIS disability support service specialising in community access. What Ability’s unique model connects people living with a disability with young, fit and energetic support workers some of whom are professional and semi-professional athletes.

Steve is aware many families living with disability don’t necessarily have the energy to go on such outings nor do they always have the funds.

So he started a national charity – What Ability Foundation – to ease this financial and emotional pressure, unlocking community experiences for people with a disability and their families.

It can be as simple as a day out bowling, a night at the footy or as epic as a trip to Luna Park.

Steve’s greatest motivation is seeing smiles on the participants’ faces.
“Many can’t talk, read, write or even feed themselves, but most can move, laugh and play. Making fun a priority helps in other areas of their lives. I believe if we are not happy, we don’t learn,” Steve says.

What Ability Foundation will put the grant towards covering the cost of participants’ tickets to sporting events, movies, bowling, rock climbing and other adventures.

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.

Amy Foster from Embassy Church
Selfless Amy Foster has started a charity that rescues food and redistributes it and other items to dozens of locals who would otherwise go hungry. As a single mum who was once homeless, Amy started Embassy Church Community Care to help feed and clothe elderly people, those affected by domestic violence and people in COVID isolation.

Mary Jo McVeigh from CaraCare
Mary Jo McVeigh has dedicated the last six years to helping Inner West children and young adults recover from trauma and abuse through her charity CaraCare. The social worker helps them find solace in creative and therapeutic group work programs in which they connect with each other and share their stories and feelings.

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