NextStep is a 3 day retreat and ongoing network for Jewish change-makers aged 18-22, to learn how to access the tools of innovation, entrepreneurship, collaboration and networks to build Jewish life and local Jewish community.

The retreat is a high quality educational program that deepens pariticpants knowledge and understanding of the local and global Jewish community and beyond. The program provides tools and inspiration for change-making and connections to social impact leaders.

Seeded by a collaboration of LaunchPadders, NextStep is modelled from the LaunchPad program and was supported by LaunchPad seed funding. The program is intentionally curated and tailored to a younger age group.

“Going on NextStep in 2015 was the best decision ever, it is an incredible way for like-minded young, Jewish people in our community to come together to learn about leadership, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and come up with incredible ideas which will change the face of the Melbourne and Australian Jewish community, and even the world one day. It allowed us to create the Jam Project.” – Ali Davis, Participant (19 years of age at NextStep)

NextStep has seeded the creation of four impactful projects:

• the JAM project – a mentoring program partnering high school girls with 20 year old women, now a project of National Council of Jewish Women
• “What”s Cooking Good Looking” – a nutrition and cooking course for Jewish people with special needs run in collaboration with Access and Flying Fox (ran in 2015 & 2016)
• Young Friends of the Jewish Holocaust Centre – a committee aiming to inspire their young peers to engage with the Holocaust centre.
• J Seek Vic – an online network for the Jewish community and the biggest database of Melbourne Jewry.

All these projects were nurtured by NextSteppers, by harnessing their passion to address the needs they see in our community.