Thank you for voting for your 2026 Westfield Sydney Local Hero.

We are excited to announce the successful hero on 20 October.

In 2026, the successful hero for each of our 42 Westfield destinations is awarded a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent, and each finalist receives a $5,000 grant for their organisation or group.

2027 nominations open 20 October.

Meet our Westfield Local Hero finalists

Ashlee Donohue

Mudgin-Gal Women's Place

Powerful. Courageous. Unstoppable.

Mudgin-Gal Women's Centre offers Aboriginal women and children experiencing domestic violence a space for culturally safe support, compassion and guidance. As CEO, Ashlee Donohue leads a team that delivers drop-in services, crisis response, mentoring, and cultural gatherings that reach more than 1,000 Aboriginal women and children each year.

If Ashlee is successful, the grant will fund a new program to help Aboriginal women experiencing financial hardship access culturally safe pathways and support.

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Eden Falk

The Shepherd Centre

Brave. Generous. Determined.

At 12, Eden is already creating change for other young people diagnosed with hearing loss. After learning to understand and speak through The Shepherd Centre, he turned his own experience into action, advocating in schools and at public events, and then founding Hibbitz, a social enterprise that repurposes Crocs charms to help kids embrace their hearing aids.

If Eden is successful, the grant will support the Hear For You mentoring programs, funding skills workshops and social and creative activities.

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Paul Bennell

Feel The Magic

Nurturing. Benevolent. Empowering.

As Fundraising and Relationship Manager at Feel the Magic, Paul helps deliver free grief-support to bereaved children and families. He leads the Camp Magic programs in NSW, working with facilitators, volunteers and clinicians to create safe environments where children can express their emotions, make connections with others, and learn practical tools to navigate loss.

If Paul is successful, the grant will fund one Family Day Camp for 40 bereaved children and 40 parents or caregivers from the community.

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

Recognising all our 2026 nominees

View all of the Westfield Sydney nominees and their organisations.