Falk becomes the youngest finalist

Eden Falk is yet to have his bar mitzvah, but at the age of 12, the confident young Reddam student has already turned a personal challenge of hearing loss into a source of inspiration and strength for kids like him, and the broader community.

That selfless contribution saw him selected as one of three finalists for Westfield Sydney in the 2026 edition of the Westfield Local Heroes program – as the youngest finalist in its history.

Members of the public can vote for their Westfield Local Hero finalist until September 20, and the winning finalist in each of the 42 Westfield shopping centres will receive a $20,000 grant for the organisation or cause they are representing.

Falk was diagnosed with hearing loss shortly after birth and, from one month old, received support through the Shepherd Centre, which helped him to learn and speak with confidence.

Rather than simply benefiting from that support, he decided to give back, advocating for children with hearing loss in schools and at public events so that other kids could feel confident and at ease, rather than self-conscious, about wearing and using their hearing aids.

That drive led him to found Hibbitz two years ago – a social enterprise that transforms donated Crocs charms into colourful, playful accessories for hearing aids.

If Falk receives the most public votes for Local Hero for Westfield Sydney, the Shepherd Centre will receive a $20,000 grant to expand its HearForYou mentoring program.

Speaking last week at Westfield Sydney after being named a finalist, Falk said the Shepherd Centre “would benefit from this amazing grant by making new workshops, which help deaf kids like me hear from amazing deaf mentors, and also let us know we’re not alone, and not different from any other kid”.

Falk thanked everyone who has voted for him so far, adding, “You’re saying yes to me, yes to helping deaf kids learn to hear and speak, and yes to a whole community.”

Recalling the moment he found out he was a finalist, Falk said, “I was ecstatic – I felt that I could finally make a great difference.”

One of the three Westfield Eastgardens Local Hero finalists is Karen Levin, the founding director of the Equanimity Project – a community-based organisation that supports women and families experiencing domestic and family violence, including coercive control.

If Levin is the Eastgardens winner, the grant will help expand the Equanimity Project’s specialist casework, emergency relief and housing pathway services.

And while there are no 2026 Westfield Bondi Junction Local Hero finalists from the Jewish community, a dozen were nominated, including representatives from Community Health Support, Chabad of Bondi, Our Big Kitchen, Feel the Magic, Oz Harvest, With You We Can, Peace Hive and Sydney Hatzolah.

To vote for a Local Hero, visit westfield.com.au/local-heroes/vote