Care at home, help for children struggling at school and support for women rebuilding after domestic violence are among the services represented by Westfield North Lakes’ 2026 Local Heroes finalists.
Christine Neiland of Rainbow Care Home Services, Diana Green of Hope Ventures and Mimi’s House, and Lou Feltham Smith of Miracle Mums Movement are the three finalists for Westfield North Lakes. Voting closed on 20 September, with the successful Local Hero due to be announced on 20 October.
The successful finalist will receive a $20,000 grant for their organisation, while the other two finalists will each receive $5,000.
Christine Neiland makes care more inclusive
Christine Neiland leads Rainbow Care Home Services, which provides aged care and disability support with a focus on inclusion and individual choice. The organisation was established in 2020 and provides in-home aged care, NDIS services, support coordination and plan management, alongside specialist services for LGBTQI+ clients.
Its Rainbow Support services include personal care, help with daily living, transport, respite, community access and domestic assistance. Staff delivering the service are either members of the LGBTQI+ community or allies. Neiland’s work focuses on people who may have experienced discrimination or isolation and who want care that respects their identity, relationships and independence.
Rainbow Care Home Services is also a registered NDIS provider, with its registration listed through to May 2028.
Diana Green helps children reconnect with school
Diana Green works with primary school-aged children who are at risk of disengaging from education through Mimi’s House. The program supports children from Prep to Grade 5 who face barriers to learning, using a small-group, home-like environment to build confidence, social skills, resilience and stronger engagement with school.
Children attend on the same day each week across a full school year, giving them continuity and regular contact with staff and volunteers. Mimi’s House operates in Logan and Moreton Bay, including a site at Rothwell, and works with schools, families and local communities.
Hope Ventures, which supports the program, says more than 500 children have taken part in Mimi’s House since it began.
Lou Feltham Smith supports life after abuse
Lou Feltham Smith founded Miracle Mums Movement after her own experience of domestic and family violence. The Redcliffe-based charity focuses on women who have moved beyond the immediate crisis stage and are trying to rebuild confidence, identity and independence after abuse.
Feltham Smith developed the organisation around survivor-led and trauma-informed support, including workshops, peer connection and programs intended to help women regain a sense of control over their lives. Her own experience shaped the direction of the charity. After leaving an abusive relationship, she identified what she saw as a gap in support for women after separation, when practical safety concerns can remain alongside longer-term emotional and financial pressures.
Feltham Smith has also contributed to public discussion around coercive control and post-separation abuse. In a Queensland parliamentary submission, she described her experience as a survivor and mentor to women leaving abusive relationships through Miracle Mums Movement.
Different needs, practical support
Neiland’s work centres on inclusive care, Green focuses on children at risk of disengaging from education, while Feltham Smith supports women rebuilding after abuse. Their organisations operate across different parts of the Moreton Bay community, but each finalist has developed practical services around people who can face isolation, disruption or reduced access to support.
The successful 2026 Westfield North Lakes Local Hero will be announced on 20 October.
Published 21-Sept-2026
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