Documentaries

How Vision Radio answers the call to connect rural Australia

“I like the isolation, but I also am a social person,” shares 76-year-old Alison Gray. “I have the radio on most of the time – on my phone. I just have it in the background, and it helps, it encourages me – lifts my spirits up.” 

In this episode of Helping Hands, we join Alison on her property in outback Queensland to see how Vision Radio provides authentic and meaningful connection for those who keep our country running in some of the most isolated places.

Learning about Australian Indigenous culture on Boigu Island

Located in the northernmost tip of Queensland’s Torres Strait Islands and just six kilometres from Papua New Guinea, Boigu Island is where Laurel was born and raised, among idyllic natural beauty, within the love and strength of her indigenous culture and community. 

“For me, growing up on Boigu Island was like living in heaven on earth”, says indigenous evangelist, Laurel Pabai. 

A Very Aussie Christmas

As a broadcaster reaching towns and cities in every corner of Australia, Vision Media is in a unique position at Christmas time. Rise and Shine breakfast radio presenters, Fel Limmer and Andy McLennan, invite listeners from the city to the bush to share the ways they celebrate Christmas.

Operation Christmas Child - the gifts that keep on giving

“Operation Christmas Child is a really tangible, hands-on way that Australians can show love to kids in need around the world,” say Leanne Palmer from Operation Christmas Child.

In this special episode of Helping Hands, we’ll see the wonderful people, passion and purpose behind Operation Christmas Child and journey alongside their work as they coordinate Samaritan Purse’s annual Australia/New Zealand gift-giving initiative.

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.

Changing children's lives, one shoebox at a time

“The kid that’s receiving this gift, that was us twenty years ago … We were kids in a country that was going through war. We received it, and it truly did mean a lot to us,” says Lina, an Operation Christmas Child volunteer. 

Operation Christmas Child - giving gifts of hope this Christmas

“I’ve done shoeboxes since my kids were little – they’re now in their twenties. But I came to the warehouse one day and I looked and thought, this really is an operation – called Operation Christmas Child – and I’m volunteering and realising the magnitude of what can be done,” says Operation Christmas Child volunteer, Jo Lawrance. 

Showing love through the generosity of gifts at Christmas

“Operation Christmas Child is a really tangible, hands-on way that Australians can show love to kids in need around the world,” say Leanne Palmer from Operation Christmas Child. 

It’s a hot day in north-western Sydney. Leanne is overseeing the busy activity at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse, from which Samaritan’s Purse coordinates its annual Australia/New Zealand charitable gift-giving initiative.

An Aussie with a Turban and a Beard

Amar Singh established Turbans 4 Australia in 2015 to provide aid relief to people across Australia, and to promote multiculturalism and religious tolerance.

Since calling Australia home as a teenager, Amar has experienced racism, abuse and discrimination, and was once told by a co-worker that he looked like a terrorist because of his turban.

Amar used this experience for good.

Miracles Day 2023 - CBM Australia

This week, we join the team at CBM Australia to find out more about the work they do coming alongside people with disabilities living in the world’s poorest places. Through interventions like the gift of eye surgery and other eye health services, the CBM team fight poverty and exclusion, and transform the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Fair Trade - The power to purchase freedom

For Australians, freedom is something we rarely think about. However, millions in the world are slaves to poverty, slaves to the sex trade, and slaves to unfair work practices. For them, freedom is something they may only ever dream of. Is there an answer to this overwhelming problem? 

Yes. Fair trade. 

Fair Trade - the power to purchase freedom

For Australians, freedom is something we rarely think about. However, millions in the world are slaves to poverty, slaves to the sex trade, and slaves to unfair work practices. For them, freedom is something they may only ever dream of. Is there an answer to this overwhelming problem?

Yes. Fair trade.

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. 

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.