 Stephens and his organisation, FremantleMedia Australia, created the ABC TV five-part documentary series, "Choir of Hard Knocks", after pitching the idea to chronicle the formation and progress of a choir in Melbourne.In 2005 Stephens had also learnt of the Montreal group and convinced Welch to participate in the documentary as music director and choirmaster.The funding organisation behind the choir was managed by RecLink, which subsequently expanded its choir program nationally and later supported eight similar choirs around Australia including the Transformers, Choir of High Hopes Hobart, Sydney Street Choir and the Rocky Road Choir.