ACT Local Heroes Vanessa Brettell & Hannah Costello Inspire Marrara Students to Lead with Kindness

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2025 ACT Local Heroes, Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, travelled to the Northern Territory in June to take part in a very special Tour of Honour, which included two Aussie of the Month school visits at Marrara Christian College and Henbury School.
As co-founders of Café Stepping Stone, a Canberra-based social enterprise that provides employment and training for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, Vanessa and Hannah shared their powerful story of building a business that puts compassion and inclusion at the centre.
During the school assembly at Marrara Christian College, they helped announce the school’s very first Aussie of the Month recipient for 2025, recognising the student’s compassion, leadership, and commitment to helping others. A proud moment for both the recipient and the school community, their contribution aligned beautifully with the Aussie of the Month values of fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.
Staff at Marrara Christian College said Vanessa and Hannah’s visit left a lasting impression on students:
“Their message of kindness, resilience and compassion truly inspired our students to make a difference in their own communities.”
The visit to the Marrara Christian College was even more meaningful for Vanessa, who returned to the school she once attended as a primary student — a full-circle moment that brought personal significance to the day.
Joining the visit were Anna McDonald, CEO of the Northern Territory Australia Day Council, and Nikolay Nikolaev from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, both proud supporters of the Aussie of the Month program and its mission to celebrate active citizenship and inclusion in schools across Australia.
Local Hero school visits are an exclusive benefit for Aussie of the Month schools, made possible through the program’s close connection with the Australian of the Year Awards.
To start presenting AOTM in your school, sign up now.