Your 2025 Westfield Fountain Gate Local Hero is:

Sally Beard

Backpacks 4 Vic Kids

Formidable. Resolute. Compassionate.

When children are moved quickly from families to foster care, residential homes or other emergency accommodation, they often have little to their name except the clothes they are wearing when they leave. That’s where Sally comes in, providing them with essential items through her charity Backpacks 4 Vic Kids. 

Sally was motivated to help due to her own experiences. 
 “I’ve been a foster carer and informal kinship carer and have experienced young people arriving at my door with little to nothing more than what they’re wearing. I wanted to change that,” she explains. 

Backpacks 4 Vic Kids provides five different crisis packs for babies, children and young people. They are specifically designed to support children at different stages or experiencing particular challenges.  
 For example, the School Essentials Pack includes basic school supplies such as stationery and lunchboxes, while young people experiencing homelessness receive clothes, a beanie and toiletries.

In the past year alone, Sally and her team have distributed 3,555 packs in Casey, Cardinia and Dandenong. 
 “I just want children to feel better, when everything they know is torn away or lost,” says Sally.  

“Having something to wrap themselves in and to feel clean alleviates some of the anxiety and grief. It restores dignity as they arrive at a stranger’s home and lets children know that someone cares.”

The $20,000 grant will be used to provide 200 packs for children experiencing displacement, homelessness or in out-of-home care.

---

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

Mamuch Chuol from NextGen Unite

Mamuch founded NextGen Unite to support South Sudanese youth through sport, mentorship and education. He aims to give back to the community that supported him as a refugee 18 years ago. His organisation helps create opportunities for young people, while building their confidence and wellbeing, and steering them away from negative influences.

Sarah Lynch from Foundation Learning Centre

For over 20 years, Sarah has championed inclusive education at the Foundation Learning Centre, which supports disengaged youth and young parents through tailored support and learning. As CEO, Sarah advocates for vulnerable learners, influencing policy and driving positive change in education to help those who struggle in mainstream and traditional systems.

---

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

Recognising all our 2025 nominees

View all of the Westfield Fountain Gate nominees and their organisations