Announcing your 2023 Westfield Local Hero

We are excited to announce Naomi Middlebrook from RADFLY (Realise A Difference For Local Youth) as your 2023 Westfield Local Hero for Helensvale!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Naomi and RADFLY 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 – totalling $1.26 million to support local communities.

For further information or to discover the Westfield Local Heroes at other Westfield centres, visit the Westfield Local Heroes website.

Your 2023 Westfield Helensvale Local Hero is:

Naomi Middlebrook

RADFLY (Realise A Difference For Local Youth)

Generous. Compassionate. Non-judgmental.

Generous Naomi Middlebrook has given her all since 2015 to lead a small band of passionate volunteers who are dedicated to leveling the playing field for vulnerable young people.

Naomi is President of RADFLY (Realise A Difference for Local Youth), where her mission is to raise awareness about youth issues and collect funds for two local youth organisations, YHES House in Southport and Ohana Youth and Education.

RADFLY and its partners provide respectful, compassionate and non-judgmental support. They help young people realise their full potential and become engaged community members through the development of meaningful human relationships.

RADFLY has supported thousands of young people over the years, and the funds it collects provides educators, case workers, mentors and industry connections for those who may not have these connections easily available to them.

The reward for Naomi and her dedicated team is the upliftment and inspiration they feel from the success stories of the young people they help. They also appreciate the generosity of their community.

Naomi feels underserving of her nomination as a Westfield Local Hero. “I believe that we all have a civic and moral duty to give back to our community, particularly if we are in a position to do so,” she says.

RADFLY will be able to fund 10 young people to complete Year 12 and 75 to complete driver training.

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

Theresa Mitchell from Agape Outreach Inc.

Tenacious Theresa Mitchell has been helping thousands of homeless people with free showers, laundry facilities, haircuts, hot meals and fresh food since she started her Agape Outreach charity in 2009. In addition to its other work, the charity’s case managers help homeless people find accommodation and run wellness programs for anxiety, stress and addiction.

Will Aufai from Gold Coast Youth Service

Will Aufai has worked tirelessly for five years to support local young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. As a senior team leader at Gold Coast Youth Service, he is a driving force to ensure the Street CRED outreach and GCYS teams provides support to Westfield Helensvale and Coomera, which strives to help vulnerable young people.

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