Presenting your 2021 Westfield Local Heroes

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

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.

Your three Westfield Parramatta Local Heroes are:

Christine Cleary

StreetMed Inc.
Compassionate. Caring. Generous

Christine (Chris) Cleary is the brave and compassionate founder of StreetMed, a charity that provides free healthcare, food and clothes to homeless and at-risk people in western Sydney. Chris has twice been named Hills District Citizen of the Year and is out on the streets almost every night leading a team of volunteers who provide physical and mental health checks, warm meals, emotional and practical support and food for pets.

Find out more >

Dr Ruth Parsell

CareFlight
Dedicated. Passionate. Empowering

Dr Ruth Parsell is deputy medical director at CareFlight, a charity that takes the emergency department to the patient in a state-of-the-art medical helicopter. Not only does Westmead-based Ruth save lives, but she is a role model who proves women can successfully combine raising a family and a successful, challenging career in aeromedical medicine.

Find out more >

Seethalakshmi Srinivasan

Rydalmere Public School Community Hub
Committed. Focused. Approachable

Seethalakshmi (Seetha) Srinivasan creates positive new pathways for migrant parents and is a pillar of support for isolated and vulnerable women. As community liaison officer at Rydalmere Public School, she coordinates various programs to make migrant parents feel included, empowered and confident to thrive in the community. She is known for her hard work, commitment and friendliness.

Find out more >

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

Helen Williams from Hope Connect Inc
Support worker Helen Williams is tenacious in her efforts to improve the lives of families in the most deprived suburbs of Parramatta. For the past 16 years, Helen has devoted herself to the Non-government organisation Hope Connect.

Marnel LaGarde from Parramatta/Holroyd Family Support Inc.
Marnel LaGarde knows no bounds when it comes to her community and has spent 35 years doing whatever she can to make a positive difference for local families. Since 1985, Marnel has been a devoted member of the Parramatta/Holroyd Family Support team and is now CEO.

Natty Osorio Diaz from The Smith Family
Natty Osorio Diaz is a passionate supporter of over 300 families and 600 students. She’s in her dream job at The Smith Family, where she helps families access holistic educational support, including literacy, numeracy and technology programs, mentors and financial assistance for educational items.

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