PHILANTHROPY

Brand Strategy Television is an active contributor to our community, we believe you must put back into the community in which you trade.

Brand Strategy Television’s head Walt Collins, is an outspoken, professional and vibrant 33 year old who builds impossible bridges within the community through documentary and media. Our work with the homeless through documentary has helped change a whole regional community’s perception on the issue and recently we've been leading the way in anti-discrimination in AFL and in schools by donating education documentary.

It’s in more recent times where our work has had a dramatic impact on the social culture of an entire community. In 2005, Walt with his colleague Craig Schepis developed a concept to help tackle homelessness in Ballarat, Victoria. Linking together the local community, the documentary highlighted the plight of homelessness in the town. It was an emotional and inspiring piece and saw donations of over $35,000 roll in for the community. Five years later, (and a further $60k) the annual documentary is now a symbol of Ballarat’s events calendar. The documentaries have touched the lives of thousands and have been responsible for a shift in local government’s policy, they have seen the funding of a full time soup bus and are used in the education system to show our young the touching and human side of the not so glamorous end of charity.

In 2010, Brand Strategy Television’s philanthropic passion shifted focus when it came to light the awful and distressing facts about youth suicide linked to homophobia. Bullying in sport and in schools is driving some young kids to self harm and suicide due to the awareness of their sexuality.

We were approached by Rob Mitchell and the AFL Players Association to put together (pro-bono) a quick 30 second TV commercial featuring 18 prominent players holding an anti homophobia sign. The FIRST TIME IN AFL HISTORY homophobia had been recognised as an issue in sport. Then, in a first ever, a local council backed our ability to connect with a youth audience by giving the go ahead to produce a documentary on homophobia which is to be used in schools across the region. The documentary tackles youth suicide, bullying and homophobia. The short inspiring piece is a fine example of how documentary and television can change the ethos of a city.

We also actively support BADGAR wildlife rescue, a Victorian charity dedicated to helping sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, as well as new homeless projects in Melbourne such as the Elizabeth Street Common Ground facility.

All of the documentaries we have done for these causes have been self funded, shot, edited and seen real blood sweat and tears with our team!