Jacqui Gildaly 2022 Westfields Local Hero finalist

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Jacqui Wins Finalist in Westfields Local Hero Awards

We are so, so proud of Jacqui and her achievements on behalf of the children and young people we support.

Congratulations on being recognised by your community as a Westfield Local Heroes finalist for Westfield Hurstville for 2022. To be nominated by your community and selected as a finalist is a wonderful achievement. Jacqui was awarded a $5,000 grant to support the continuation of her work!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote – it is much appreciated! Thank you also to Westfields Local Heroes grant for the amazing opportunity!

Jacqui accepting her grant award

Burdekin’s own Jacqui Gildaly was one of three finalists for Hurstville in this year’s Westfields Local Heroes Awards. Jacqui is a passionate Program Manager for young people in out-of-home care.

Caring Jacqui Gildaly digs deep to keep life regular and happy for children in out-of-home care. In her role with The Burdekin Association, she is always willing to go the extra mile to find carers nearby children’s original community so they don’t need to change schools and can see their friends.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities. The finalist with the most community votes will become the Westfield Hurstville Local Hero for 2022, receiving a $20,000 grant for the organisation they represent. If Jacqui is successful, The Burdekin Association will put the grant towards its Uplift Fund, which pays for a therapist for the children, tutoring and needed items such as school laptops.

Westfield Local Heroes is a recognition and awards program that shines the spotlight on individuals in Australia and New Zealand who make a positive impact to their local community or environment.

We acknowledge the Aboriginal people of the Cadigal and Gayamaygal Clans. We acknowledge the Country on which we live, work, and gather as being Aboriginal land.

We acknowledge the lands, waterways and skies that are connected to Aboriginal people. We honour them and pay our deepest respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

We respect their rightful place within our communities, and we value their ancient cultural knowledge and practices.

Aboriginal Flag
Torres Straight Island Flag

We deeply respect that this will always be Aboriginal land and we will honour and follow the first peoples’ values in caring for the Country and for preserving their culture.

We deeply value that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest living culture in the world and we will continue to work with their peoples and communities to ensure their cultures endure and remain strong.