Aviva has contributed to the vibrant Perth Jewish community as a youth volunteer for the past decade, with involvement spanning Carmel School, Beit Midrash of WA, Menora Charity Fund and March of the Living.  Her young adult leadership experience started in 2020 when she became a madricha for Bnei Akiva. When Aviva’s Israel program (MTA) was cut short due to Covid, she returned to Perth to help Bnei Akiva, including contributing as Rosh Tochnit for camps. Aviva has travelled to be a madricha for federal camps in Melbourne and in New Zealand and spent several years running weekly tochniot.  Aviva has completed yearly leadership development training with the AZYC and AUJS and is currently the regional WA President of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) and has been actively involved with AUJS for several years.  Aviva previously led the Jewish Engagement Committee for the WA executive. Through AUJS she has planned multiple events that have socially connected a diverse range of Jewish students from across four Universities.  There advocacy is extensive and has involved meetings with the Premier and politicians, university officials, the police, hosting honorary guests to combat antisemitism on campus. This has been especially important this year while the encampments have occurred.  The AUJS team work tirelessly to provide a safe and secure environment for Jewish students.

Aviva has had the opportunity to involve herself in the expansive Jewish community spaces through charity/call days. This involvement has been through various Jewish Australian organisations such as AUJS, March of the Living, JNF Green Sunday and UIA.

Aviva remains committed to the community and its youth development. She has been studying full-time and working part-time throughout her years of volunteering.  Aviva hopes to take this combined experience forward and undertake post-graduate study towards becoming a Jewish educator.

The Perth Jewish community is small and diverse, and many of its younger members are both geographically and socially isolated from community activity.  Many of our youth leave for larger Jewish communities, resulting in a demographic gap between students and young families.  As a graduating student, Aviva is committed to ensuring young adults in the community are active and connected and have opportunities for involvement that will strengthen their Jewish identity.