We are excited to announce your three 2021 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Mount Druitt.

Each of the affiliated organisations of the successful heroes will be awarded a $10,000 grant to support their work to thrive. Westfield will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million.

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

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Your three Westfield Mount Druitt Local Heroes are:

Dr Faryal Zehra

Little Helpers on the Run
Tireless. Determined. Unrelenting

Dr Faryal Zehra has recruited an army of enthusiastic children to bring kindness to the community through her non-profit Little Helpers on the Run. The children have completed over 4000 kindness projects, which improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the elderly, isolated, homeless and children and families in need. The children volunteers also improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Find out more >

Emma Smith

Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency
Empathic. Dedicated. Passionate

Emma Smith has smoothed the path for countless school-aged immigrants in her five years with the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency. The busy full-time university student finds time to volunteer with the non-profit’s youth mentoring program for disadvantaged high school students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are at risk of dropping out.

Find out more >

Solomone Fotu

Rap 4 Change
Passionate. Dedicated. Caring

Solomone Fotu has shown many at-risk young people how they can build a positive future through his volunteer work with Rap 4 Change. The non-profit works with teenagers and young adults who are dealing with unemployment, substance abuse, self-harm and other issues. Solomone and the other volunteers encourage good choices through school-wellbeing programs, hip-hop lessons, mentoring and sporting activities.

Find out more >

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We congratulate our finalists and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community.

Darryl Hamilton from Mt Druitt Police Area Command
Darryl Hamilton has helped young people in the Aboriginal and broader community towards a brighter future as a volunteer with the Mount Druitt Police Area’s Breaking Barriers program. The early morning physical training sessions alongside police breaks down barriers and builds self-esteem.

Donalee Rose from Hearing Australia
Donalee Rose helps many Western Sydney people with hearing loss enjoy the sounds they love again through her work with Hearing Australia. She is usually the reassuring first point of contact for people attending a hearing test at the mobile hearing van and local pop-up care and education kiosks and is proud to start people on their hearing journey.

Jay Tobin from Whitelion Youth Agency Ltd
Jay Tobin has made an enormous difference in the lives of at-risk youth during his four years with the Whitelion Youth Agency, with many now in secure employment thanks to his help. Jay is a youth worker with the non-profit. He assists disengaged youth to complete a hospitality program at the organisation’s work-experience café.

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

Recognising all our 2021 nominees

View all of the Westfield Mount Druitt nominees and their organisations