Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good (DIYDG) is a youth-led, First Nations governed organisation dedicated to inspiring, equipping, and empowering the next generation of change makers.

Based in Cairns, with community ties to the surrounding regions extending north to the Cape and Torres Strait, and south to the Townsville region, DIYDG is dedicated to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth through programs that focus on leadership, culture, and community engagement, and provides a platform for young people to co-design and lead their own projects.

DIYDG was created to support families experiencing intergenerational and persistent trauma. The founding members were motivated by their responsibility to break the cycles of disadvantage and to empower peers, family, and community to develop and realise a different future. 

DIYDG acknowledges that its community is diverse, and extends its support to include and empower young people and communities of all nations:

“We have a deep respect and connection to each other which exists beyond bloodlines.”

DIYDG believes that every young person has the power to create positive change in the world, and deserves equal access to opportunities to do so. It aims to provide a safe and supportive space where young people can challenge themselves to grow, to develop resilience and leadership skills, and achieve their goals. DIYDG delivers its service offerings through three streams:

• Growing Our Way – programs that champion and elevate youth aspirations and voices, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of current and future leaders. fostering
• Strengthening Our Families – core programs that provide holistic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander models of care, supporting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of families and youth to foster resilience and self-determination.
• Empowered By DIYDG – community programs, developed by self-motivated individuals and collectives, that align with DIYDG’s values and vision.  DIYDG provides administrative support, sharing its own developmental journey and providing capacity-building and auspicing services to community members.

DIYDG delivers 14 core service offerings through these streams, aimed at fostering a strong sense of identity and purpose among young people. The organisation aims to both provide culturally safe processes within its own programs, and to facilitate access to other appropriate programs where possible, and is focused on meeting young people where they are and advocating for them at all levels – understanding both the big picture and local challenges that young people face.

Programs under DIYDG’s banner include the Pamle Pamle Youth & Family Support Service (PPY&FSS), which provides a diverse range of support services to young people and their family, offering holistic responses rooted in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander practices, protocols, and connections.  Services include crisis support, outreach, family communities, case management, and diversion activities.

The Good Vibrations program aims to strengthen the well-being of young people, with weekly gatherings providing a safe environment for young people to explore themselves, build positive peer connections, develop support structures, and have a place to belong. DIDYG also hold an annual 3-day Wellbeing Camp, on which young people are encouraged to build and facilitate their own workshops and activities, make positive peer connections, build self-awareness and confidence, and share knowledge and stories.

The Lift Leadership program seeks to build leadership potential in young people and is based around the organisation’s key principles: inspire, equip and empower. DIYDG seeks to empower young people to recognise that their problems and challenges are not their identity, and works closely with each individual to equip them with the skills and opportunities to grow and give back to community, and cultivate their voice, identity, and leadership skills for impactful action, fostering collective change and social justice.

Since 2019 DIYDG has been a passionate Advocate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. In 2022, DIYDG led a grassroots campaign advocating for the ‘Yes’ vote in the 2023 Voice referendum, embarking on a cross-country road trip to gather support and commemorate Vincent Lingiari’s historic 1966 civil rights victory at the annual Freedom Day Festival in Gurindji. The trip was captured in the documentary Voice, co-directed by DIYDG Co-Founder Semara Jose and scheduled to premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

Voice will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 21 and 23 August. More details available here.

The 2024 DIYDG Wellbeing Camp will be held from 6 – 8 September. More details available here.

Cover photo: The Lift Leadership Team at St Teresa's College, Abergowrie, for Reconciliation Week 2023. All photos courtesy of DIYDG.

Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good is supported through the Resilience funding stream.