We are excited to announce your three 2020 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Parramatta.

These inspiring local leaders were nominated and voted for by the community and will now be awarded a $10,000 grant for each of their affiliated organisations to help their important work to grow.

Westfield Local Heroes is a community recognition and grants program, connecting and enriching local communities. Launched in 2018, the program spans our 42 trade areas across Australia and New Zealand. In 2020, we are awarding $1.26 million to 126 local organisations.

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

Your three Westfield Parramatta Local Heroes are:

Alison Jones

Accessible Diversity Services Inc
Motivated. Compassionate. Genuine

Alison Marie Jones works with newly arrived refugee youth and goes above and beyond to help them access employment and education opportunities in Australia. Starting a refugee Learn to Swim school is not in Alison's job description, but it is one of her many standout achievements. The program provides Islamic girls with a private and safe space to learn to swim, socialise and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing. It also caters for boys. Several students have trained as swimming instructors, and 14 have been employed so far. For most, it is their first job in Australia.

Find out more >

Jason Sotiris

Supertees
Caring. Dedicated. Helpful

Tradie Jason Sotiris is giving thousands of sick children a boost with free medical-grade superhero garments to replace their hospital gowns. Not only do Jason's Supertees help the children tap into their internal superpowers, but they are carefully designed to make life easier for bedside parents and nurses. Jason came up with the idea when his baby daughter was seriously ill in Westmead Children’s Hospital with a rare type of cancer. The Supertees are MRI compatible and have side studs to make changing easy and openings for tubes. "We aim to help little heroes fight the big battles," says Jason.

Find out more >

Louise Borg

Make-A-Wish Australia
Resilient. Inspiring. Determined

Louise Borg has been a dedicated and empathetic volunteer for the western Sydney branch of Make-A-Wish since it started 18 years ago. Over the years, she has brought joy to many families and children with serious illnesses by pulling out all the stops to fulfil their wish. Louise has continued volunteering despite the demands of raising two children. The wishes have a profound impact on children and she hopes to be volunteering for the next 40 years. “My aim is to be the longest serving volunteer in all of Australia one day,” Louise says.

Find out more >

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

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

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