Westfield Local Heroes
Westfield Local Heroes is a recognition, awards and partnerships program that shines the spotlight on individuals in Australia and New Zealand who make a positive impact to their local community or environment.
Since 2018, Westfield has contributed more than $9.8 million* to 991 community organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted by their communities. Each year, one Local Hero per Westfield destination receives a $20,000 grant and two finalists for each destination receive a $5,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent.
We continue to partner with and support many of our heroes and finalists to strengthen their connections and impact within local communities. We value all of our previous heroes, finalists and nominees. Select from the dropdown menu below to read about more of our alumni.
Read more about Westfield Local Heroes here.
2025 Hero and Finalists
Sydney Local Hero, Patricia Tacchi
Early Bird Café
Trish spends up to 20 hours per week serving breakfast to people in Sydney experiencing homelessness and hunger. Trish has been volunteering at the Early Bird Café in the city for eight years. As well as serving food, Trish also manages the stock, purchases supplies, cleans, and proposes new initiatives and practical ideas. Since 2023, she has also been a board member.
Sydney Finalist, Angelique Wan
Consent Labs
Ten years ago, at the age of 19, Angelique co-founded Consent Labs to change the culture around consent and sexual violence. Frustrated by her own schooling, she created youth-led, evidence-based teaching to educate students, parents, carers and teachers. Since 2021, more than 100,000 people have been through the charity’s programs, building a safer future for young people.
Sydney Finalist, Anna Brooks
Lifeline Australia
Through her partnership and research work with Lifeline Australia, Anna helps enhance crisis support and mental health services for people in emotional distress. She collaborates with experts to improve services, developing tools and initiatives that ensure no one faces trauma alone. Anna is driven by the daily positive impact of the charity’s work.
2024 Hero and Finalists
Sydney Finalist, Katie Green
Inner City Legal Centre
Katie Green is passionate about supporting and protecting the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. As the managing principal solicitor of the Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC), Katie provides holistic and specialist legal services at no cost with a focus on family law, employment rights and domestic violence support.
2023 Hero and Finalists
Sydney Local Hero, Valda Allen
The Haymarket Foundation Ltd
Valda Allen works tirelessly behind the scenes to help provide support for homeless people in the Sydney CBD. Valda came out of retirement 16 years ago to take on the role of Quality Coordinator at the Haymarket Foundation, where she is employed part-time to support Sydney’s most vulnerable people. When it’s busy, she regularly volunteers around the clock.
View all Westfield heroes, finalists and nominees since 2018
Select a year to download past Westfield Local Heroes information.