Announcing your 2023 Westfield Local Hero

We are excited to announce Anna Coutts-Trotter from The Survivor Hub as your 2023 Westfield Local Hero for Eastgardens!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Anna and The Survivor Hub to continue to grow their impact in the local community

The 2023 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totaling $1.26 million to support local communities.

Nominations for the 2024 Westfield Local Heroes program are open now. If you know someone who's making an impact, nominate them as a Westfield Local Hero - nominate here.

Your 2023 Westfield Eastgardens Local Hero is:

Anna Coutts-Trotter

The Survivor Hub

Brave, Empathetic, Inclusive.

Photography credit: Tim Bauer for Good Weekend

Empathetic Anna Coutts-Trotter has cocreated a safe space for survivors of sexual assault to come together and heal.

Anna co-founded The Survivor Hub, which hosts regular MeetUps across Sydney, Melbourne, various regional locations and online

Anna was inspired to start the hub after after an isolating court process as a survivor of sexual and domestic violence. The organisation was built by survivors for survivors to address the very real need of peer support and community safety.

Through the hub’s peer support, survivors create communities and networks that improve their wellbeing and help them heal.

Survivors appreciate the opportunity to spend time with people who share deep and personal knowledge about how they feel. Because others in the room have survived, they feel they can too.

Anna is moved by the feedback she receives. For example, the person who said they had not experienced anything similar to a MeetUp in the 20 years since they were assaulted.

Anna is honoured to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “Survivors have told us that our MeetUps have saved their lives. Our MeetUps are often the first time people have sat in a room with other survivors.”

The Survivor Hub will use the funds to support more survivors of sexual assault in the Eastgardens local area.

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

Christina Iskandar Diva Charity Incorporated.

Selfless Christina Iskandar has devoted years to helping people in need through her Diva Charity. One project close to her heart is her Sunday food drive for social housing residents in South Maroubra. No questions are asked, and anyone can benefit from the homecooked meals, groceries and community connection her charity provides.

Kevin White from Charity Bounce

Former basketball professional Kevin White goes above and beyond to make a positive impact on thousands of disadvantaged children and young adults. Kevin is the youth engagement and player liaison for Charity Bounce, where he helps the players transfer what they learn on the court to the life skills they need off the court.

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