Working with families to make wishes come true

Fun-loving. Compassionate. Encouraging

Make-A-Wish Australia touches a chord on many levels for Emma Levett, who is President of the charity’s Central Sydney branch.

One of her many roles is to visit families in their homes to speak to children about their wishes and make them come true.

During these visits, she is often reminded how kindness, love, compassion and fun can help the whole family.

On a personal level, Emma knows what it’s like to have a family member diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and this gives her insight into how many of the families that she meets are struggling.

Emma she is proud and grateful to be voted a Westfield Local Hero. “To be recognised for the work that we are doing for the kids is amazing,” she says.

It can take the volunteers some time to develop a plan for each child’s wish, she says. “You build relationships with these families to have a positive impact.”

Apart from many hours of fundraising and administration duties a month, Emma is closely involved in delivering every wish in central Sydney to ensure every child has the best possible experience.

“Receiving a wish has a significant positive impact on children’s physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing,” she says.

Under her watch, kids have been gifted wishes such as meeting SpongeBob SquarePants, being a purple pirate princess or riding in a batmobile.

Part of the reward is seeing the delight on kids’ faces and making a difference, no matter how small, says Emma.

Almost all parents say the whole family benefits from the granting of a wish, as do friends and school communities, who are often deeply affected by the serious illness of a child in their network.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation.

Make-A-Wish Australia will put its grant towards delivering the thirteen active wishes in the central Sydney region.

“With the money, we can keep unlocking the imaginations of children and granting those wishes,” says Emma.

__For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here. __