Tweed charity founder named NSW Local Hero at Australian of the Year Awards

TWEED-based psychologist and founding director of Agape, Theresa Mitchell, has been named the NSW Australian of the Year Local Hero at a ceremony in Sydney last night.

Along with the other three NSW recipients, Australian of the Year Dr Alison Thompson OAM, Senior Australian of the Year Professor Henry Brodaty AO, and Young Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann, the four were selected from 17 nominees across the state.

A resident of Banora Point, Mitchell, 51, founded Agape Outreach Inc. in 2009 and operates the charity, which cares for people who are homeless or in crisis.

Upon realising she could no longer walk past homeless people on the street, Mitchell began handing out meals from her own kitchen.

Sixteen years later, Agape operates throughout the region with the support of 300 volunteers, providing over 1,500 hot meals every week to vulnerable people and services such as back-to-work programs, psychology, and basic life skills.

As well as advocating for the homeless and disadvantaged, Mitchell has fostered 37 children, and said Agape (which is the Greek word for unconditional love) is her gift to her community.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns congratulated all the nominees and award recipients.

“Each has a personal story and motivation that drives the work they do, and it’s clear how much passion and dedication they bring to it,” Minns said.

“They should all be proud of what they have achieved.”

The NSW awardees will join recipients from other states and territories at the national Australian of the Year Awards ceremony in Canberra on Sunday, January 25.

For more information, visit australianoftheyear.org.au