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Q. What do I have to do once I have been nominated?
Your nominator must complete their nomination by Thursday 12 March 2026, 7pm AEDT. Nominations received after this time will not be eligible for the 2025 program. You must then complete the online submission form by Thursday 19 March 2026, 7pm AEDT for your nomination to be eligible. Once you submit your nomination you will not be able to edit it.
Q. What happens if I have been nominated multiple times?
Having multiple nominations does not impact the assessment process. Once you have completed one nominee submission your nomination will automatically go into the assessment process.
Q. Can I have an extension to submit my nomination?
Unfortunately, no. In fairness to all our nominees and to ensure we can keep on track with our selection process, we cannot offer extensions.
Q. As a nominee, will I be provided feedback if I am unsuccessful?
You will receive a notification about the outcome of your nomination. Unfortunately, as we receive thousands of nominations every year, we can’t provide individual feedback.
Q. As a nominee, how will I know if I am a finalist?
We will notify all nominees of the outcome of their nomination by 24 August 2026. Westfield Local Heroes will be announced on 20 October 2026 and published on our website www.westfield.com.au/local-heroes. All Local Heroes in New Zealand will be published on www.westfield.co.nz/local-heroes.
Q. Why do you ask if I have a criminal record?
The intent of the program is to discover and raise the profile of individuals who make a positive impact to their local community or environment. Westfield Local Heroes are positive role models who lead by example and who are trusted and respected by members of their community. We judge every nomination on its individual merits, and a criminal record does not exclude nominees from becoming a Westfield Local Hero. This information remains confidential and is not shared with your organisation representative, referee, or the Westfield selection panel.
Q. What will the selection panel be looking for in a nomination?
The selection panels assess each nominee on their own merits, taking into consideration how their work positively impacts the local community or environment, their standing as a community role model, how the grant will be used to directly benefit the local community or environment and the hero and organisation’s goals to continue to build thriving and resilient communities.
Q. Why do you want a referee/s?
Your referee/s can help us get to know you better to inform our nomination assessment.
Q. Who can be my referee/s?
Your referee must be a person who works in the same sector and/or who collaborates with you. i.e. A representative from a referral agency, community or corporate partner, government body or grants funder. Your referee can’t be a family member or someone that works at your organisation or group or the person who nominated you.
Q. As a nominee, will I be interviewed?
As part of the assessment process, we may request a short interview by phone with you.
Q. How secure is the information I provide?
We take your privacy seriously. Information gathered for Westfield Local Heroes will be managed in accordance with the Scentre Group Privacy Policy. By agreeing to the terms and conditions of Westfield Local Heroes, you are giving your consent to Scentre Group to use and disclose the information in your Westfield Local Heroes nomination for purposes related to the program, including promotional and marketing purposes.
Q. Where can I find the Terms and Conditions for the Westfield Local Heroes program?
Please find the full Terms and Conditions here.
Q. Why is there a community vote to select the heroes?
Telling the stories of our finalists and raising awareness of their amazing work in the local area is a key intent of this community recognition program. The voting period invites and encourages community members to engage with the program and learn about the finalists and their work. We provide all finalists with tailored marketing materials to help them promote themselves to their networks, and we give equal time for each of our finalists on our Westfield channels in our destinations and on our digital channels.
Q. There is a significant time period between nomination and voting. Why is that, and how will you keep me updated?
With thousands of nominations across Australia and New Zealand, we apply a rigorous and fair assessment process that involves multiple steps. We will inform all nominees of their nomination status no later than 24 August 2026.
Q. Why are paid employees of organisations eligible to be nominated in the program?
The Westfield Local Heroes program ensures all community heroes, whether volunteers or paid employees, are acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. Both play crucial roles in supporting and enhancing community services. Without these dedicated organisations and their staff, many essential services wouldn’t be available.
We aim to raise awareness of the diverse ways individuals contribute to our communities. Recognising both volunteers and paid employees helps us highlight the full spectrum of community support and make a greater impact.
Q. How else can Westfield help my work if I am not successful in this program?
We know that our Westfield destinations are local hubs where people come to connect, inform and share. It is through our destinations and staff that we can contribute directly to communities in a number of ways. This includes providing space at our Community Sites in our destinations for local, community-focused groups to raise awareness of their work; working with local groups and organisations as part of our Destinations Community Plans; and enabling our staff to support causes of their choice through volunteering days and Workplace Giving. For more information, see our Community Pages on each destination's website, www.westfield.com.au.