Chanel Contos, Rozanne Green, Josh Oshlack: Meet Wentworth’s changemakers and community heroes

An award recognising eastern suburbs changemakers and community heroes has unveiled the nominees, including Vaucluse’s Chanel Contos. Find out who else is on the list.

The inspiring initiative of Vaucluse’s Chanel Contos, who was part of Australia’s ‘Me Too’ movement changing how society views sexual consent, recently brought community leaders to tears when her achievements were celebrated.

Ms Contos, 24, launched her Teach Us Consent petition following a viral social media post in 2021 calling on women to share their experiences of sexual assault.

Her activism led to NSW Police setting up a reporting line for women via her website and the development of sexual consent programs at Australian schools.

Later this year Ms Contos will travel to Canberra to launch new initiatives with the Centre for Sex and Gender Equality at the Australia Institute.

Now, she has been nominated for a Westfield Local Heroes award.

Nominees for the Westfield Local Heroes grant. Images: supplied.

At a council meeting earlier this year Ms Contos was recognised for her achievements, including being given the Diana Award, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.

“My children went to Kambala, they look to Chanel as an absolute hero,” Woollahra mayor Susan Wynne said.

“What she has done; she has completely changed the landscape. She has been recognised worldwide.

Ms Contos (right) pictured with Brittany Higgins and Lisa Wilkinson. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams

“She is an extraordinary woman who had the guts to stand up and speak out, and as a result of that she truly has made a difference. We’re very lucky to have her in our community.”

Chanel Contos said the national reach of her campaign was only possible because eastern suburbs women first raised their voices on a sensitive issue to see it become a public conversation.

“I’m a bit speechless about that,” Ms Contos said of the councillors’ words.

Ms Contos said seeing the impact her campaign had on generations of women had been deeply rewarding.

“It’s really beautiful to get to see older generations being so supportive, especially if they grew up in the area,” she said.

“The original intention of the Teach Us Consent petition very much started focusing on schools in the eastern suburbs. This started as a local campaign. And the only reason it turned national was because of the people that were having conversations and sharing things on social media.”

Now in its fifth year, the successful Westfield Local Heroes nominee will be awarded a $20,000 grant for the group or organisation they represent, with each finalist receiving a $5000 grant for their organisation.

Westfield Bondi Junction centre manager, Justine Saunders said the group had invested $6.14 million since the program’s inception in 2018.

“Through the Westfield Local Heroes program, we continue to recognise and acknowledge people who have made a lasting impact on the future of our local community,” she said.

Voting for the grant closes on Monday 22nd August, and is open now at the Westfield Local Heroes website.

Meet the other nominees who have enriched their community:

Rozanne Green, Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club

Ms Green says learning to swim spurred her to community work. Image: supplied.

A longstanding Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club member, Rozanne Green launched the Silver Salties walk and talk group in 2020, which offers people aged 65-plus with Covid-safe exercise and social connection.

Ms Green said her desire to bring people together at the beach comes from her own late-in-life love affair with the surf.

“I‘m 63, but I only learned how to swim at 40,” she said. “I decided to get involved with the club doing volunteer life saving, because now that I can swim, I can help. I can help others.”

Ms Green has grand plans to expand Silver Salties to swimming, but for now she is proud of the strong bonds and welcoming atmosphere that has grown between older members of the community.

Josh Oshlack, The Rhythm Village

Mr Oshlack runs music therapy at schools across the eastern suburbs. Image: supplied.

Josh Oshlack grew up with an insatiable passion for music in all its forms, teaching himself to play everything from bass guitar to drums.

He now runs workshops and music therapy sessions for hundreds of children with disabilities at schools and other venues in the Bondi area every week.

He said music helped bring people together, no matter their background or abilities.

“Music is one activity that can really bring all the students together. Connection is one of the most important human needs. I‘m able to do that through music,” Mr Oshlack said.