Presenting your 2021 Westfield Local Heroes

We are excited to announce your three 2021 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Tea Tree Plaza.

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, click here.

Your three Westfield Tea Tree Plaza Local Heroes are:

James Norris

Walk With Wings
Inspirational. Selfless. Humble

James Norris has volunteered countless hours for seven years to support parents of premature babies and those who have lost a child. He is the co-founder of the Walk with Wings charity and provides peer support, premmie support packages, free AngelCare baby monitor hire and free hand and foot impressions of children who have passed away.

Find out more >

Kate Pastro

Talk Out Loud
Passionate, Empathetic, Inclusive

Volunteer Kate Pastro is a passionate advocate for LGBTQI+ mental wellness and has adopted many roles over the past three years at Talk Out Loud, a charity that supports and builds the emotional resilience of young people at risk by creating a safe and inclusive environment at their hub space in Ridgehaven. During the pandemic last year, Kate took the initiative to develop a program called REAL Talk which provides 1:1 non-clinical sessions for youth and young adults free of charge to the community

Find out more >

Nicola Bennett

PQSA
Dedicated. Hardworking. Passionate

Nicola Bennet has dedicated her 30-year career as a spinal nurse adviser to helping people re-join society and engage in employment after a devastating injury. In her work with PQSA (Paraquad South Australia), Nicola travels around the state to support clients, often working in her own time to help them with continence management, skin issues and social and psychological issues.

Find out more >

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

Kirsty Whitehead from Children's Tumour Foundation
Brave mum Kirsty Whitehead advocates and raises funds for children with neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic condition that causes tumours in the nervous system. Kirsty is a dedicated volunteer for the Children’s Tumour Foundation (CTF) and runs a South Australian online support group for those living with the condition.

Warren Hicks from South Australian State Emergency Service Volunteers' Association Inc.
SES volunteer Warren Hicks is a first responder and a steadfast advocate for other South Australian SES volunteers. Warren is chair of the SES Volunteers’ Association, where he promotes the health and wellbeing of 1500 volunteers across 64 units in the state.

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