Westfield Local Heroes is a recognition and awards program that connects and enriches communities in Australia and New Zealand. The program discovers and celebrates individuals who make a positive impact to their local community and/or environment.

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

Jane Standen

GiveAbility
__Selfless . Empathetic . Passionate __

School children borrow all-terrain wheelchairs and walkers to participate in their first cross country. Families borrow specialist wheelchairs for their first trip to the beach together. These are just two of the ways GiveAbility co-founder Jane Standen is helping local disabled children. Jane’s eldest son was diagnosed with leukemia before his third birthday and her 16-year-old daughter is profoundly disabled. “These lived experiences and the challenges we have faced as a family have been the genesis for the GiveAbility program,” says Jane, who co-founded the charity with husband Scott Standen and paediatric physiotherapist Melissa Locke.

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Megan Stray

Heal.ed tribe
__Selfless . Compassionate . Devoted __

Former primary school teacher Megan Stray founded the Heal.ed charity to help young people with mental illness stay engaged with family, friends, school and their life. She takes every opportunity to run empowerment programs for children and teens and to give presentations at schools and awareness-raising events. But Heal.ed is getting its best results from its free day retreats for girls.They are shown different coping skills by practitioners who donate their time. Megan ensures a full day of love, pampering and healing with activities including yoga, kinesiology, facials, journaling and reflexology.

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Nick Marshall

The Albatross Nippers
__Selfless . Friendly . Fun __

Physiotherapist and surf club coach Nick Marshall knew he had to help when he realised local children with special needs were missing out on the joy of Nippers. So, he started the Albatross Nippers to provide an inclusive opportunity to enjoy the quintessentially Australian rite of passage. Nick, who is the physiotherapist for the Australian Lifesaving Team and has been a coach at Nobby's Beach surf club for 10 years, designed a special program in which his young Nippers buddy up with mainstream peers to enjoy confidence-building activities in the surf and on the beach.

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Recognising all our 2019 nominees

We congratulate all of our finalists and nominees and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community.
View all of the finalists, nominees and their organisations

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