A SOUTH Guildford resident has been nominated for the WA Local Hero award in the 2024 Australian of the Year awards.

Chef and educator Catherine MacDougall was selected for the work her not-for-profit organisation has done in helping young people pursue careers in education, food and hospitality.

As co-founder of Prepare Produce Provide, Ms MacDougall is committed to creating meaningful change through a multi-faceted approach in addressing the complex issues facing youth.

One initiative is the ‘5000Meals’ program which addresses wastage and food insecurity by bringing together chefs, students, volunteers, and donated food to create nutritious meals for people experiencing homelessness.

Since it began in 2012, it has provided more than 100,000 meals.

Another initiative at Prepare Produce Provide is the ‘Djinda Ngardak’ culinary program which offers Aboriginal students across Western Australia the opportunity to train with top chefs and cultural leaders, inspiring careers in the hospitality and tourism industries.

This initiative supported the first two Indigenous youth to participate in Germany’s Culinary Olympics.

Meanwhile, Mechelle Turvey is a WA nominee for Australian of the Year and is also nominated for the 2023 Australian Human Rights medal for working towards long-term systemic change for victims of crime following the tragic death of her son Cassius in late 2022.

The Western Australian award recipients will be announced on Thursday, November 2 in a ceremony at Government House in Perth and online here.

They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on Thursday, January 25 in Canberra.