Your 2026 Westfield Eastgardens Local Hero is:

Ruming Yang

South Eastern Community Connect

Compassionate. Tenacious. Humanitarian.

Ruming Yang has been awarded a $20,000 grant for their organisation, South Eastern Community Connect.

Arriving alone in Sydney at 17, Ruming Yang set out to build a future grounded in helping others.

Growing up in a small village in southern China, she says her parents welcomed travellers, neighbours and anyone needing support into their home. That example still guides her work today.

Now the Family Support Team Manager at South Eastern Community Connect (SECC), and a social work graduate of UNSW, Ruming helps Mandarin-speaking migrants who often struggle to access health and social services due to language and cultural barriers.

“What motivates me most is the trust people place in me,” says Ruming. “Many individuals I support are sharing their stories for the first time, and it is a privilege to be someone they feel safe to open up to.”

Recognising a gap in how parenting support reaches non-English speaking families, Ruming has translated and delivered parenting sessions in Mandarin for local parents.

Through SECC, she also supports women and families affected by domestic and family violence, ensuring they get the help they need to rebuild wellbeing. Many clients describe her as the first person they could truly confide in.

For Ruming, connection creates lasting change. “Being able to bridge cultures and help people feel understood and included is both a responsibility and a privilege I deeply value,” she says.

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

James Unwin

St John Ambulance NSW

Dedicated. Outstanding. Upstanding.

Since joining St John Ambulance NSW in 2016, James has contributed thousands of volunteer hours. He has cared for hundreds of patients, helped safeguard large events across Sydney, and worked to strengthen his volunteer Division's training program, sharing his medical and practical knowledge. He also takes part in delivering first aid training to the public, passing skills onto others in the community.

Karen Levin

The Equanimity Project

Caring. Courageous. Dedicated.

Karen Levin founded The Equanimity Project, a community-based organisation that supports women and families experiencing domestic and family violence, including coercive control. Her organisation offers safety planning and pathways to housing, as well as support for navigating legal and welfare services. Karen also works with the wider community to bring lasting change, through mentoring, workshops and advocacy.

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

Recognising all our 2026 nominees

View all of the Westfield Eastgardens nominees and their organisations.

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