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This is Merissa, Semara and Daniel from DIYDG. Three young people with big hearts, big dreams, and big drive, who serve their community day in, day out.

The feeling of family is palpable when you visit, which makes sense because “at DIYDG, family isn't just who you're born to—it's who stands beside you, lifts you up, and believes in you."

“Our mission is to inspire, equip and empower. We’re helping people challenge themselves, what can I do? What can I achieve? How can I inspire, equip and empower myself? What we’re trying to do is develop and foster sparks in individuals to create change.”

The DIYDG story starts almost a decade ago, and what is especially inspiring is that the energy and enthusiasm is so strong after all this time!

“We strengthen our community, we provide opportunities, learnings, developments. We want like minded people like DIYDG everywhere!”

We’re proud to have been a small part of the DIYDG funding story these last few years, and are excited about some of the ideas the crew are dreaming up for the future! ❤️

Follow @diydgofficial to learn more! by @brightmoonau

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11 days ago

“As women, we hold immense power. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunties. The next generation are being raised by us, and are looking up to us.”

In my very first meeting with Lateesha Jeffrey, of @waveofchangeptyltd , she explained the seed of the idea she had had for creating change that will ripple throughout community and country.

“We can choose to instil empowerment into our daily lives, in the way we speak and move in the world. I strive to fiercely educate and empower, driving generational change for a brighter future.”

It’s so inspiring to see someone as talented and strong as Lateesha choosing to put her time into family, community and country. And her words about the agency women everywhere have in shaping the future, are words we can all take to heart. ❤️

You can learn more about Lateral Empowerment at @waveofchangeptyltd by @brightmoonau

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23 days ago

Behind-the-scenes! … “I hope that these young people learn some lifelong skills, both culturally and through camera skills” says Kantesha Takai of @theloladigital .

“But most importantly, I hope this gets them reconnecting with themselves and their identities to be proud of who they are, and who they are as First Nations people of Australia.”

Kantesha Takai teamed up with Joey Laifoo of Island Stars and the boarders at Kaziw Meta school, to create a beautiful acknowledgement of Country in the islands of the Kaiwalagal region.

You can see the video here on Instagram, posted on Friday (when the kids had their first viewing of the finished product in a special screening!) by @brightmoonau

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a month ago

Filmed, written and directed on Waiben / Thursday Island by Alfred, Arona, Becky, Diri, Edmund, Ella-Rose, Emmanuel, Josie, Kaleah, and Marsella from Kaziw Meta school.

When @theloladigital was approached to create a film to acknowledge Country, we decided to give cameras to the voices of our future. This is from their hearts to yours.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land and Sea on which we meet, and pay our respects to the elders of the past, present and emerging.

Made possible by @kantesha_takai and @theloladigital loladigital.com.au with cultural guidance from @joeylaifoo of islandstars.com.au 💛 by @brightmoonau

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a month ago

Really excited to see Stephanie from Arrernte Boxing Academy / Boxing Connect profiled in @natindigtimes this month, AND being recognised in the NT News Woman of the Year awards too. From Nicole Browns excellent piece in NIT interviewing Steph about how boxing changes lives:

“What stands out the most isn’t just physical improvement, it’s the shift in how people carry themselves,” she says.

“Some of the women come in shame, hesitant and second guessing themselves. Over time I see their confidence grow. The hesitation fades and they are willing to push themselves just a little harder.”

“With young people, they come in with a lot of energy. Boxing gives that energy structure. Over time we notice better emotional control, more patience and responsibility.”

In a place like Alice Springs, that impact runs deeper than sport.

“Arrernte Boxing gives our members a safe place to go and train without judgement. Everyone is welcoming and part of the Arrernte Boxing family,” she says.

“Our coaches aren’t just trainers, they are mentors, role models and sometimes mediators. Respect, accountability and looking out for each other becomes part of the culture.”

Go https://nit.com.au/07-05-2026/24144/from-the-red-dirt-to-the-ring-stephanie-stone-fighting-for-more-than-titles to read it all 🥊 by @brightmoonau

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2 months ago

“Aboriginal wounds need Aboriginal medicine” is how Professor Juli Coffin summarises the need for better and more self determined approaches to the ongoing ripple effects of trauma in the community. Through her work and the work of @yawardanijanga she’s helping change the narrative around young people and mental health in the Kimberley and across the north. Juli is pragmatic, determined and inspirational — she’s also deeply insightful. She has a knack for aphorisms, towards the end of our first call she stops and says: “The story about our young people has to change — they are an asset, not a deficit.” 💛

We’re excited for more people to know about Juli’s work soon thanks to @guidedbyhorsesfilm — an upcoming feature length piece Juli has worked on together with a pair of talented filmmakers. Juli says the best way to understand Yawardani Jan-ga is to come and experience it. The next best way? The magic of cinema ✨ by @brightmoonau

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3 months ago

Strength comes from within. In grassroots communities there exists a vast reservoir of human potential. The Grassroots Storytelling Club, is a new initiative to support people in their own communities engaged in small scale storytelling projects, not for outsiders (or for the internet), but just for bringing local community together, and building on the strength that sits at the heart of every community.

If you’re interested in trying it out in your area - we can provide some support (if its helpful).

DM us if you’re experimenting with the idea and we can have a call to discuss!

Here at Bright Moon, our bread and butter is backing First Nations changemakers up north, who are starting early stage orgs.

In addition to our normal grants, we’ve been exploring different forms of storytelling work to understand how it can be a natural compliment.

Storytelling is a powerful way to share perspectives, ideas, knowledge and culture. Our stories help make sense of the world we live in. They influence our feelings, actions, and sense of possibility.

Because we advocate for change that starts at the grassroots, we think this ‘Grassroots Storytelling Club’ form of storytelling could offer a valuable project-based pathway to social change.

Voiced by the inimitable @ilaiswindells and animated by @nabilburias

#grassrootstorytelling by @brightmoonau

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4 months ago

“At Mayála, we believe Story can be medicine. Our stories carry strength, truth, and the clues for what care is needed. We hold gentle but purposeful spaces to untangle inherited systems that keep people disconnected from healing, belonging, and opportunity.” says Noni, creator of @mayalaconnect

“Guided by the Five Rights* — right people, right time, right place, right language, right way — we bring yarning at the intersections, mentoring, guidance, creative practice, and Béya Toolkits together to grow awareness, share knowledge, and plant seeds for generational healing.

Your story matters ~ and it can be medicine for someone else, too.

My vision for Mayála is to encourage consciously nurturing environments where everyday people, grassroots voices and lived experience are acknowledged, and where healing is prioritised and practiced across many places through meaningful, respectful engagement for the purpose of generational healing.”

* The “Five Rights” framework was developed from a community governance training program in Maningrida and were presented at the Garma forum by board and staff of the the, then Maningrida JET Centre

We’re very pleased to be backing @mayalaconnect and Noni’s beautiful vision 🐚 Go mayalaconnect.net to learn more! by @brightmoonau

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5 months ago

“We’re working to build a safer, stronger, and more resilient community by empowering our young people to consistently make positive choices. Our programs support social and emotional well being, strengthen cultural identity, and help young people stay engaged in education, work readiness, and family life. By supporting family stability and reconnecting our youth with culture, we aim to break cycles of disadvantage and create long-term wellbeing for our whole community.” This is how husband-and-wife team Kyrow and Genavie Tabuai describe the vision they’re working towards in their community in FNQ through the amazing @borimuy

“Families in our community are facing a lot of instability, and too many of our youth don’t have access to strong cultural connections, positive role models, emotional regulation support, reliable services or clear pathways into education or employment. Because of this, young people disengage from school, participate in criminal or anti-social behaviour, and veer away from building a strong and successful future.”

We’re thrilled to be able to back Kyrow and Genavie as they continue to build on their programs to give young people a safe space, positive role models and meaningful opportunities.

Follow @borimuy or go to borimuy.com.au to learn more 🔥 by @brightmoonau

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5 months ago

“Our communities want economic and social autonomy, built on cultural strength. That means the freedom to design your own life, the safety to be your full self - culturally, mentally, physically, and socially, intergenerational empowerment - where knowledge is passed down and built upon, not broken or lost, and a connected, healthy, and hopeful community - where opportunity isn’t a one-off but a way of life.” This is how Cara Peek, in the Kimberley region, describes why she and her sister have started the Crossroads initiative at their organisation Saltwater Country.

“Crossroads is a culturally intelligent ecosystem for personal growth, professional development, and community transformation. Through ‘Early Exposure, Early Experience, Early Intervention’, it ensures that young people and adults have multiple entry points into a journey of empowerment. We engage participants through real-world, culturally relevant projects where every moment is a teachable opportunity, contributing towards a developmental pathway of: Try → Learn → Earn → Lead”

It’s an exciting initiative to build skills, confidence and self-determination, and we’re happy to be able to back Cara and Adele to continue their work in the region.

You can learn more at @saltwatercountry or saltwatercountry.com.au by @brightmoonau

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5 months ago

We've been working on a set of explainer videos that lay out some of the approaches we advocate for at Bright Moon. Approaches that embrace learning and adapting, cooperating and consulting, and capacity building!

We're excited to share the four part series up on youtube.com/@brightmoonau (link in bio)

Voiced by @seththevoiceactor and animated by @nabilburias

Hope you enjoy them and that they spark some ideas! 🔥 by @brightmoonau

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5 months ago

Aunty Jill reflects on the power of storytelling to bring community together. Her play “The Boy Who Found His Way Home” is the story of a young city boy, Iothamo, coming home to the islands and discovering his roots.

Thanks to @kantesha_takai and her team at @theloladigital, and @bowie_jillian, we can share in how this story came to life. The project beautifully reflects many principles of Grassroots Storytelling: stories shaped by community, grounded in culture, and shared as a way of passing on knowledge, strengthening identity, and creating space for learning.

Head to youtube and search for “Aunty Jill and the Boy Who Found His Way Home”.

Big thanks to Aunty Jill and Kantesha for sharing! ❤️ by @brightmoonau

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5 months ago