Thank you for voting for your 2026 Westfield Chermside Local Hero.

We are excited to announce the successful hero on 20 October.

In 2026, the successful hero for each of our 42 Westfield destinations is awarded a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent, and each finalist receives a $5,000 grant for their organisation or group.

2027 nominations open 20 October.

Meet our Westfield Local Hero finalists

Carolina Puleston

Commonkind

Caring. Inspiring. Visionary.

Carolina Puleston built Commonkind to provide volunteering opportunities for young people and families in North Brisbane. Her programs – including packing breakfast boxes and mobilising community donations – help the next generation to understand social issues and become compassionate citizens, while also providing much-needed help to those in need.

If successful, the grant will be used for immediate food relief through the breakfast box program, benefitting 2,000 vulnerable children and expansion of the ‘Learn by Heart’ volunteer service program or long-term community impact.

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Mia Bannister

Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention

Courageous. Purposeful. Pioneering.

Through Ollie's Echo: Pathways to Prevention, the charity she established in memory of her son, Mia Bannister delivers prevention education and advocates for earlier recognition and support of eating disorders. Mia works with schools, clinicians, businesses and communities to protect all young people, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked experiences of boys and young men.

If Mia is successful, the money will allow support for up to 3,000 students in 12 months, and will be used for governance and reporting to ensure sustainability and scalability.

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Suki O'Dea

Nexus Care

Driven. Compassionate. Resilient.

Every year, Suki O’Dea coordinates dozens of volunteers to deliver over 4,500 food parcels and more than 20,000 breakfasts to North Brisbane families living in hardship through her organisation, Nexus Care. Serving the community from a small kitchen in Everton Park, she ensures people get the nutrition they need and brings them inclusivity, care and a sense of dignity.

If Suki is successful, the money would provide 663 food parcels - the equivalent of 39,787 meals - with each parcel designed to feed a family of four for a week.

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

Recognising all our 2026 nominees

View all of the Westfield Chermside nominees and their organisations.