Documentaries

The Gift of a Home for Christmas

“Wesley Mission has given me hope. Wesley Mission has given me back trust. Wesley Mission has given me back appreciation of love,” says Martin, a recipient of housing through Wesley Mission’s Homeless Services.

“When you think you’ve lost that, and it’s irredeemable – to actually realise it isn’t lost, it’s still there, you just needed somebody to show you how to do it again.”

A Cup of Coffee - changing the narrative around disability employment

“Many of the people here go over to get their coffee and they’re met with a great smile, a lot of vibrancy, fantastic personalities. You don’t always connect the dots and think, This is a person with a disability. This is a person with a vibrant personality, who understands coffee, who is offering wonderful hospitality,” says David Jack, CEO of TLC Impact.

In this episode of Helping Hands, we join the TLC Impact team in their partnership with Business Chambers South who ran a Job and Skills Expo in the Sutherland Shire attended by more than 450 people earlier this year, and spend time with Salim, a member of the TLC team who serves more than just a cup of coffee!

The BIG Difference of Little Communities

In this episode of Helping Hands, we see the Little BIG House breaking through the barriers of loneliness and isolation, and creating deep and meaningful community connections.

“The Little BIG House is our neighbourhood hub,” says Sarah Mathews, CEO of the Little BIG Foundation. "It’s a place where people come together. We have ninety events a month." Everything is based around creating connection and meeting your neighbours and bringing people together.

Tough Love that Transforms Lives

“There’s no bad kid. There are only children with negative learned behaviours,” says Matthew French, co-founder and director of Veteran Mentors. “There isn’t a better beautiful sight than watching a parent and child reunite.” 

Matthew served in the Australian armed forces and post-military, is using his training to help change the lives of young people and families across Australia through Veteran Mentors - a nine-day youth development program designed for troubled teens.

The circular economy of tools

When Amy Croucher needed tools for some DIY around her home, she was faced with two choices; to buy tools from her local hardware store, even though she suspected she may use them once and leave them on the shelf to gather dust for the rest of their lives, or, find a way to access and use the tools she needed without such economical and environmental expense.

Ending the cycle of violence with KYUP! power

Incidents of violence against women are sadly growing. In Australia this year alone, horrendous statistics show us that more than one woman has been killed every week through domestic violence.

This is what makes the work of the KYUP! Project even more important, and it’s what drives the passion of its founder, Mel Thomas. Created to break the cycle of family and domestic violence at its grassroots, the initiative is fast becoming Australia’s premier violence and prevention empowerment program for teens.

Empowering Independence and Choice

It’s daunting to know that of the 30,000+ people across Australia requiring Specialist Disability Accommodation, almost half are currently living in unsuitable housing. When Ability SDA Directors, Angie and Paul Simmons, saw first-hand that young people with a disability were living in aged care facilities, they decided to do something. 

Jeremiah providing a future of hope!

The Jeremiah Project exists to bring hope and a future to people experiencing homelessness.  Founded by Jacky Turano and supported by a team of over 110 volunteers, the heartbeat of The Jeremiah Project is to ensure that everyone knows they have a purpose and are loved. 

Helping Hands spent an afternoon with Jacky and the Jeremiah team at the Hawkesbury Community Kitchen in Windsor, NSW to see how this charity is working with local businesses and supporters, and punching well above its weight.

The circle of generosity

When Mel Burgess opened Op for Change in Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches three years ago, she was inspired to do so by the vision to take the humble building blocks of a traditional Op Shop and transform the concept into something much bigger than a place to resell used goods.

Op for Change is Mel’s dream successfully realised. In Part 2 of this Helping Hands documentary, we see that the popular social enterprise has become a staple in the Northern Beaches landscape, providing plentiful opportunities in and for the local community to be a part of the revolving doorway of generosity that the shop facilitates.

Manly locals impact the community for good

When Mel Burgess had a dream to open an Op Shop, she was determined to find a way to give back to the local community. In this episode of Helping Hands, we see Mel’s dream come to fruition in Op for Change, the social enterprise Mel opened in Manly. 

In just her third year of running Op for Change, Mel and her team of op shop volunteers have received and sold over ten thousand items donated by Northern Beaches locals, and the social enterprise has given away over $50,000 to local charities. 

Boccia Paralympians set for Gold in Paris

Paralympians Daniel Michel and Jamieson Leeson are the team to beat in Paris later this year, and we will be cheering them on.

They will represent Australia in the BC3 category of Boccia, and headline the Boccia NSW State Titles documentary on Helping Hands this week.

How to be the "World's Best Dad"

Dads4Kids started in 2002 with the dream to make Australian dads the best dads in the world - at least in their own kids’ eyes. And they believe that the key is intentionally finding opportunities to spend time with your kids. “The dream of Dads4Kids is building men, growing fathers, changing generations,” says founder, Warwick Marsh.

Dads4Kids is all about providing opportunities for dads to be present with their children while having fun. Their annual Dads4Kids Fun Camp is popular with dads and kids wanting to spend time together.

Hidden treasures in the Blue Mountains

Tucked away in every corner of The Nook, you will find hand-crafted artistic creations made by more than 35 artisans who are members of this unique Blue Mountains co-operative. 

For more than 28 years, The Nook has been the epitome of individuals coming together in their diversity to create a community around a common cause.

Collective impact can change the world

There is a growing trend in the world of business to be purpose-led, to make an impact, and to have a social conscience.  This has been a hot button topic in recent years and has seen the growth of the social enterprise sector, as well as many businesses aligning with the B Corp movement.

Pro Purpose is one initiative enabling small to medium businesses in Australia which exist to make a profit and which do not have the capacity to go through the rigorous B Corp approval process, to make a social impact in the course of their daily business workflow.

Building Men, Growing Fathers, Changing Generations

Each year, Dads4Kids hosts a Men’s Leadership Summit to equip men to be the best version of themselves.

Helping Hands joined Dads4Kids and over 60 men from across Australia to see how fathers and sons of all ages, cultures and nationalities are being given the tools to make the world a better place.