Documentaries

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.

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.

Generosity made simple for business

Novale Bathrooms provide design-driven, dream bathroom renovations for clients. With Pro Purpose, the success of their business enables them to sponsor children in developing countries, provide micro business start-up loans, and provide 231 nights of accommodation to families who are experiencing homelessness.

Limcora is a large plumbing and drainage company. Through the one truck, one child initiative Pro Purpose helped them implement, they sponsor children through World Vision.

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.

Written in Chalk: the echo of Arthur Stace

The Darlinghurst Theatre Company, who run the Eternity Playhouse Theatre, opened its doors to support the production of a cultural and historical documentary called Written in Chalk: the echo of Arthur Stace.

This week, we see Part 2 of our story about Wesley Mission's Aunties and Uncles team as they collect over $10 000 of toys and redistribute them to children and families doing it tough.  A small act of anonymous generosity can go a long way.

This week, we see Part 1 of our story about Wesley Mission's Aunties and Uncles team as they collect over $10 000 of toys and redistribute them to children and families doing it tough.  A small act of anonymous generosity can go a long way.

Lost Children of Jonglei Scholarships

This week, we join Aduk Dau at her Women's Afternoon Tea fundraiser and see the inspiring story about her passion to provide secondary school education to vulnerable South Sudanese youth, displaced by civil war and living as refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.

Brad and Rich's story - Wesley Mission

This week, we step into the lives of Brad and Rich to see how their lives are enriched through Wesley Mission's housing and community.