Voting has now closed for Westfield Local Heroes

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

This year Westfield will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand totalling $1.25M. Now in its 7th year, the Westfield Local Heroes program will have contributed $8.6M to more than 860 successful Local Hero organisations since it began.

Voting has now closed and the Westfield Local Heroes will be announced 15 October.

Meet our Local Hero finalists

Allyson Hamblett

Māpura Studios

Determined. Courageous. Authentic.

Allyson Hamblett mentors disabled artists and advocates for a more creative and inclusive society. As an artist with cerebral palsy and the disability advisor at Māpura Studios, Allyson is a living example of the benefits of art therapy. She joined the studio in 2002 and has since displayed her art in notable galleries.

If Allyson is successful in the community vote, the money will be used to provide art workshops to disabled and disadvantaged people, including mentorship and art materials.

Dr Fahima Saeid

New Settlers Family and Community Trust (NFACT)

Passionate. Committed. Inspired.

Dr Fahima Saeid is the co-founder and CEO of New Settlers Family and Community Trust (NFACT). Drawing on her experiences as a refugee from Afghanistan, she leads NFACT in providing culturally appropriate services that empower former refugees, especially women and girls. Her work has positively impacted over 1,500 people in New Zealand so far.

If Fahima is successful in the community vote, she will use the funds to enhance NFACT's refugee resettlement program. This includes providing educational workshops, psychosocial support groups, and leadership training to empower former refugees, especially women and girls.

Michelle Jennings

Ripple

Giant-hearted. Dedicated. Caring.

Michelle Jennings founded Ripple to provide essential clothing for children living in hardship and to divert textile waste from landfill. Ripple distributes 'Gear Box’ clothing parcels to Women's Refuge and Oranga Tamariki. So far, Michelle has diverted over 2.3 tonnes from landfill and clothed over 220 children, each for a year at a time.

If Michelle is successful in the community vote, she will lease a warehouse to process more clothing, enabling more children to be clothed and more waste to be diverted from landfill.

Voting is now closed for Westfield Local Heroes.

The successful 2024 Westfield St Lukes Local Hero will be announced on 15 October. We congratulate all of our finalists and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community. Thank you for your votes.

If you need support, please phone Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543 354