We are excited to announce your three 2021 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Warringah Mall.

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 Warringah Mall Local Heroes are:

Barbara Stenhouse

Lifeline Northern Beaches
Respect. Compassion. Collaboration

Psychologist Barbara Stenhouse has facilitated more than 2000 low cost or free counselling sessions in the past year. In her two years as counselling manager at Lifeline Northern Beaches, Barbara has expanded the counselling team from 14 to 21 qualified volunteer counsellors and psychologists, helping to meet the ballooning demand for face-to-face counselling.

If you need support, please visit Lifeline Northern Beaches or phone Lifeline: 13 11 14

Find out more >

Christian Barwell

Up & Over
Passionate. Proactive. Ambitious

Christian Barwell gives teenagers and adults with disabilities equal opportunity to partake in activities other members of society take for granted – like visiting a restaurant with friends. Driven to make a positive difference, Christian launched Up & Over last year and arranges fun and engaging social outings like mini-golf, rock climbing and restaurant visits.

Find out more >

John Tansley

Active Opportunities Inc.
Selfless. Inspiring. Passionate

Keen footballer John Tansley is helping local children with intellectual needs enjoy the thrill of kicking a ball and enjoy the benefits of participating in a team sport. For many years, John has bounced out of bed on Saturday mornings during term time to run the all-year Active Opportunities at Cromer Park.

Find out more >

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

Gwen Korebrits from Dance Health Alliance
Gwen Korebits has helped thousands of people dance their way to better health. After studying therapeutic dance, the former professional ballerina developed a movement therapy program for people with chronic mental health and neurological conditions. She also started the Dance Health Alliance charity, which runs programs in several areas around Sydney and trains allied health professionals to deliver dance therapy.

Jason Partington from Making Meditation Mainstream
Jason Partington is bringing the benefits of meditation to the masses. Having used meditation to support his own mental health, he now offers free face-to-face meditation groups and online meditation classes through Making Meditation Mainstream, which has reached tens of thousands of people and raised over $31,000 for Lifeline Northern Beaches. If you need support, please visit Making Meditation Mainstream or phone Lifeline: 13 11 14

Mel Thomas from KYUP! Project
Martial arts instructor Mel Thomas is helping build a safer community for girls and women by teaching them self defence and playing a mentorship role. Mel, a survivor of childhood domestic violence and intimate partner violence, set up KYUP! Project in 2013 as a charity with a mission to end violence against women.

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

Recognising all our 2021 nominees

View all of the Westfield Warringah Mall nominees and their organisations