We are excited to announce Madeleine Lobsey from The A List Hub as your 2023 Westfield Local Hero for Penrith!

Westfield is proud to award a community grant of $20K to help Madeleine and The A List Hub to continue to grow their impact in the local community

The 2023 Westfield Local Heroes program will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million to support local communities.

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

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Your 2023 Westfield Penrith Local Hero is:

Madeleine Lobsey

The A List Hub

Passionate. Inclusive. Joyful.

Joyful Madeleine Lobsey has a magical touch for making autistic children, teens and their families feel socially connected.

Madeleine is the Western Sydney General Manager of The A List Hub, where she has made it her life’s work to reduce loneliness and create opportunities for young autistic people and others in the neurodivergent community.

As a parent of an autistic child, Madeleine had witnessed her daughter’s heartbreaking loneliness and desire to make friends. Driven to do something positive, she asked 200 local autistic teenagers what they want. The simple answer was a place to hang out.

That wish drove the launch of The A List Hub social gatherings for young people in Western Sydney to make friends and be completely free to be themselves.

The A List Hub is a national organisation with over 30,000 participants. It’s early days in Penrith, Blacktown and Liverpool, but Madeleine has already brought connection and relief to hundreds of families.

It’s incredibly heartwarming for parents to see previously isolated young people connect, smile and engage with each other.

Madeleine is humbled to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “It matters to me greatly that I provide every opportunity possible to young autistic people in Western Sydney.”

The A List Hub will use its funds to set up new social hubs for young autistic people to come and hang out in Western Sydney.

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We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent...

Kris Gauci from Our Community Cares

Kris Gauci is the driving force behind innovations that touch people's lives across the Penrith local government area. Kris is the Chairperson of Our Community Cares, which raises funds for cancer patients, school children, the elderly and others. Kris makes a point of supporting causes that would otherwise fall through the cracks.

Nicole Mannyx from St. Andrew's Penrith Presbyterian Church

Nicole Mannyx has rolled up her sleeves to create a community pantry that offers free groceries, low-cost personal items and a friendly chat. A special feature of the weekly pantry is that it offers gluten and dairy-free items for people with food intolerances. Nicole also enhances community by encouraging people to stop for a cuppa and chat.

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

Recognising all our 2023 nominees

View all of the Westfield Penrith nominees and their organisations.