Phillip immediately accepted. Not only because of the personal connection, or because of his business’s philanthropic philosophy.

But because Giant Steps is no ordinary school.

 

Giant Steps: Supporting children and adults on the autism spectrum

Based in Kew, with a campus in Sydney, Giant Steps Melbourne is a specialist school for individuals on the autism spectrum.

The school provides a personalised education and therapy programs for students – while also working closely with families to support the students’ evolving needs.

However, the school has another purpose: to promote a wider understanding of autism in the community – and cultivate opportunities for inclusivity.

Combining music, speech and occupational therapy, Giant Steps’ transdisciplinary approach supports both children and adults with an engaging education and recreational post-school environment.

So when approached, Phillip chose not only to donate money. But his time, too, and in the form of his most well-known skill.

Auctioneering.

 

‘Rolling up our sleeves’: Auctioneering for a purpose

Think public speaking is difficult? Try hosting an auction.

Fortunately, Phillip and his fellow auctioneers (Gary Peer, Jeremy Rosens, Leor Samuel, Simon Radolnik, Matthew Morley, David Thomson and Graeme Callen) have a knack for it.

They all host regular auctions – selling southeast Melbourne’s most impressive homes in exciting, energetic displays. Yet all eight also host regular charity auctions: be it for Giant Steps, the local sporting club, or one of the many other grassroots causes Gary Peer & Associates supports.

Many businesses give back to charities, of course – typically with monetary donations alone. So why do Phillip and his fellow auctioneers take a more hands-on approach?

“It’s easy to write a cheque. But to roll up our sleeves and do what we can, when we can – that’s a wonderful privilege.

“You either give your money or your time. We like to do both.”

For Phillip, philanthropy isn’t merely a ‘nice to have’ for a business. It’s a responsibility.

“Gary and I are honoured to be inside people’s lives and houses: their most intimate spaces. We’ve observed, firsthand, the challenges these families face.

“Because we have this large audience – this megaphone, this mouthpiece, this team that involves itself in hundreds of conversations a week – it’s our obligation to share these important messages. To tell everyone about these amazing causes that support our local community.”

 

In the Glasshouse: An auction like no other

On a Saturday night in late July, at Olympic Park’s Glasshouse, the 2022 Giant Steps Social took place.

An annual event, the Giant Steps Social brings the school’s community of families, funders and corporate partners together. To celebrate the school’s stories and successes – and raise crucial funds.

The showpiece of the night? A live auction. The anticipation was at a crescendo; the room buzzed. And, much like he had hundreds of times before, Phillip Kingston took the stage.

This night’s event, though, (titled ‘The Very Real Auction’) had a difference.

Rather than chasing consumer items to take home, the room was bidding to donate to the school’s various projects and programs. Pledging their money not to holidays or homeware for themselves. But to vital equipment, experiences, and infrastructure for Giant Steps’ Melbourne campus.

Among the donations the audience was bidding for:

• $6,000 to purchase a class set of six laptops: to accelerate the senior students’ learning, and enable them to access therapy and other programs.
• $6,000 to create a ‘normal’ camp experience for students. (Including breakfast with mates, sleeping in bunks, and having a good laugh.)
• $15,000 to strengthen Giant Steps’ outdoor education program: a curriculum that includes bike riding, hiking and learning from nature.
• $30,000 to operate Giant Steps’ onsite mental health clinic. With a skilled psychologist, psychiatrist, and allied health team supporting the school’s children and families, it’s Giant Steps’ most in-demand offering.

The stage was set. The atmosphere? Electric.

“At a Giant Steps fundraising evening,” Phillip explains, “people are so pleased to be there. The cause resonates with so many of us. And people seem to be so much more aware of autism – particularly those who’ve been touched by it through a family member or friend.”

 

A night to remember: The auction unfolds

In the Glasshouse, the bidding began. But does the real auction action start when the lights go down and the curtain comes up? Or much earlier?

According to Phillip, it’s the latter – meaning preparation is vital. Fortunately, the business of real estate lends itself to a generous phone book. And Phillip had done his homework.

“I’d studied the guest list ahead of the auction,” he confides, “so I knew exactly who’d be in the room. I’d also rung a few guests, particularly those I know to be philanthropic, in advance to ask if I could rely on them to bid.”

The auction began, as Phillip – armed with a booming voice and roving mic – kicked proceedings off.

The bids flew in.

“Because I know so many people, they know that if they’re in my line of sight and they don’t bid, they’ll have me in front of them – making it clear that they need to!”

Phillip chuckles. “If there’s a noisy table, I can draw attention to somebody on it and ask them to quiet down. I’m not above ‘naming and shaming!’”

His tactics worked. One of the projects on offer – which required a $6,000 donation – received 12 successful bids. Resulting, in itself, in a staggering $72,000 pledged to the school.

As for the whole evening? The 2022 Giant Steps Social raised a total of $250,000.

Every cent will go to equipping Giant Steps with the means to continue providing a stable, supportive education for individuals with autism.

“I loved the fact that the crowd that night got behind the bidding,” Phillip remembers, “even though the goods weren’t ‘tangible’. The successful bidders didn’t walk away with a trip to Fiji; they were putting their money into buying much-needed resources for the school.”

 

Giving’s green garden: An enduring commitment to community

Why do Phillip, Gary, and the rest of the Gary Peer & Associates team do it, then? Beyond the buzz of the night, or the satisfaction of seeing a school receive the funds it needs to thrive.

For Phillip, it all comes down to one core concept: community.

“Local communities are the grassroots of wider Australia: the centrepiece of a great society. If we look after our patch, it’s the multiplier effect. And if everyone waters their own front lawn, we can transform our whole city into a lush, green garden.”

As Phillip highlights, we all need to pull together for our local community. Yet the road to real change contains its fair share of speed bumps.

“We live in a society where people can be so ambivalent. They don’t think they, alone, can affect change. But we’re believers in the power of one. That, by simply doing something, everybody can make a difference.

“It’s like building a house, in many ways – there’s no trade that can do everything. But when the trades all come together, beautiful things happen.”

Auction by auction and donation by donation, Gary Peer & Associates will continue to give. Be it to organisations supporting individuals on the autism spectrum and their families, or to the wider community.

“We may be talking about Giant Steps,” Phillip muses. “But at the same time, small steps are required.”

 

Want to help Giant Steps take longer, more progressive strides? Make a tax-deductible donation today.

Your money will help Giant Steps support children and adults with autism – and their families. And enable them to learn in a safe, inclusive environment that’s fully tailored to their needs.

Every dollar counts. Thank you!