Aboriginal led NGO I.D Know Yourself appoints Hopeful Monsters for social + digital strategy

ID. Know Yourself (IDKY), an Aboriginal-led, nongovernmental organisation (NGO) that supports Aboriginal children living in out-of-home care and within the child protection system, has selected independent creative agency Hopeful Monsters to lead its social and digital strategy following a competitive pitch.

Founded by Butchulla and Garawa man Isaiah Dawe five years ago, IDKY advocates for social change to create better outcomes for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are ten times more likely to enter the out-of-home care (OOHC) system than non-Indigenous children. Their vision is to be able to support every one of them to feel empowered, have safe and stable housing, be culturally strong, be able to live independently and have a clear path to education and employment.

Says Danielle Parkinson, general manager, ID. Know Yourself: “IDKY strives to empower Aboriginal young people to have a greater sense of belonging, plan for a brighter future and to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and disadvantage. By partnering with Hopeful Monsters we are excited to drive greater awareness of our trauma-informed and culturally sensitive mentoring program.”

Says Katie Barclay, founder and CEO, Hopeful Monsters: “With more than 22,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children currently in out-of-home care, there is a critical need for Aboriginal-led support programs focused on culture. The work Isiah and the team at IDKY is doing is incredible, providing much needed mentoring, all the while connecting children back to their roots. Our goal is to help drive awareness of their work so more Aboriginal young people around the country can grow through their support.”

Individual, historical and intergenerational trauma have a high-impact and long-term effects on Aboriginal children in OOHC. If you know someone in need of support or you’d like to offer yours, please visit ID. Know Yourself.