Attitude Foundation engages Taste Creative for new TV series promoting inclusion

The Attitude Foundation, together with its principal partner ANZ, has selected award-winning production company Taste Creative to film a television series promoting the valuable contribution of people with disabilities within Australian communities.

This is an important milestone for the Foundation which since being founded in 2014 by Graeme Innes, Australia’s former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, has worked to secure funding from industry and government for the production.

Graeme Innes noted the alignment between Taste and Attitude Foundation as a key driver of the decision to partner with this production company, “I have advocated for a long time that there is a need to highlight the person first not the disability on our screens. Taste shares that approach.”

“Taste Creative also employs many people with disabilities, including participants in inclusive filming workshops with their not-for-profit sister organisation, Bus Stop Films.”

Ms Clay-Smith explained, “As a creative agency with a passion for inclusion and diversity, we exist to engage, inspire and move people through the art of storytelling, to help shape positive change around the world.”

Last week Taste’s sister company, Bus Stop Films, was awarded the Community Organisation Award at the Human Rights Awards, for its contribution to creating more inclusion in the film industry. Co-founder of Taste, Genevieve Clay-Smith was also named the 2015 NSW Young Australian of the Year and in 2009 won Tropfest with the inclusively made film Be My Brother.

“Graeme Innes and I were pleased to meet with Taste’s co-founders today, Henry Smith and Genevieve Clay-Smith, at ANZ to officially welcome them to this important project which we envisage will support the ongoing shift in how Australians view disability,” said Christine Linden, a Director of the Attitude Foundation and General Manager, Regional Business Banking, ANZ.

“ANZ is proud of its unique partnership with the Attitude Foundation and our two-year financial commitment to assist the Foundation in providing a voice to the four million Australian’s with a disability. This partnership forms part of ANZ’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion in our workplace and communities,” added Ms Linden, who is also ANZ’s Accessibility and Inclusion Plan Chair.

The Attitude Foundation and Taste Creative plan to begin filming in 2017.