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

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.

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Your 2022 Westfield Carousel Local Hero is:

Shameema Kolia

Muslim Women Support Centre
__Compassionate. Brave. Kind __

Shameema Kolia has stepped up to become a guiding light for hundreds of local Muslim women.

Shameema volunteered to become the volunteer President of the Bentley-based Muslim Women Support Centre to give back for the support she received when she was a new migrant to Australia.

In her role, Shameema is continuing the support centre’s 30-year legacy of providing inclusive, holistic and culturally sensitive services to women and families. Together with other volunteers, she advocates and consults with the WA government, arranges food support, connects women with different service providers and directly supports women and families affected by domestic violence.

In addition, Shameema organises leadership programs for young women and arranges social gatherings for women to stay connected. She also works with organisations such as Fremantle Women's Health to organise various health and wellbeing programs for mothers and babies.

Shameema is humble about her achievements and is grateful to the management committee for helping her find her feet when she took on her role.

“I became the President because I knew of the impact that the organisation had on countless women and me. I want to be part of something that positively impacts people, especially women.”

Muslim Women Support Centre will put the grant towards running costs and training volunteers to increase the number of programs focused on women and youth mental health and domestic violence.

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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.

Helen Coles from Operation Sunshine WA
Compassionate Helen Coles is a committed volunteer who helps more than 3000 women, children and adolescents displaced by domestic violence and abuse over the past year. Through her work at Operation Sunshine WA, she provides comforting packs of clothes, essentials and small gifts that help break down barriers.

Pauline McIntyre from Vinnies
Generous Pauline McIntyre has volunteered for St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) for more than 25 years and is now President of Queens Park Region. She personally delivers food & clothing vouchers and Christmas hampers with presents.

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

Recognising all our 2022 nominees

View all of the Westfield Carousel nominees and their organisation