Two Decades of Connection and Growth

For two decades, Stand Up’s partnership with the communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla has embodied meaningful allyship between the Jewish and First Nations communities. What began as a school holiday volunteering program has evolved into a multigenerational relationship grounded in respect, trust, and a shared purpose.

At the heart of this connection is Derech Eretz (Hebrew for “the way of the land”) an immersive leadership and volunteering program that links young Jewish adults with these communities. Over 20 years, it has fostered enduring bonds, cultural exchange, and solidarity, enriching both communities in lasting ways.

Program Overview

Derech Eretz runs twice a year in January and July. Participants spend 10 days in the communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla, located on the NSW-Queensland border. These visits allow enough time to form meaningful connections while contributing to valuable community initiatives.

Participants engage in an immersive cultural experience.

• Cultural exchange - guided by Elders and leaders, participants hear first-hand the experiences, histories and cultures of Toomelah and Boggabilla
• Community engagement - build relationships with community members. Become part of the longstanding bond grounded in connection, trust and mutual respect
• School holiday activities - Coordinating activities for young community members, such as sports, crafts, and swimming in the local creeks.

Why Participate?

This is more than a trip, it’s a transformative journey that invites participants to:

• Reflect on Jewish values in the context of contemporary Australian justice issues
• Stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities through listening and action
• Build friendships rooted in humility and mutual respect 

A Legacy of Relationship Building

For two decades, Jewish volunteers have traveled to Toomelah and Boggabilla, gradually transforming initial connections into deep, respectful relationships that span generations. The program's longevity speaks to its significance: in a country still grappling with reconciliation, Derech Eretz offers a model for meaningful engagement across cultural divides.

Get Involved

Applications Derech Eretz January 2026 have closed but EOI's for July 2026 are open Derech Eretz expression of Interest - Stand Up. Find out more about how you can be part of this powerful experience, contact us at [email protected]

Camp Connections and Young Adults emerged out of Derech Eretz as opportunities to engage Toomelah and Boggabilla’s teenagers and young adults. Volunteering for either program is open to Derech Eretz alumni only. 

Camp Connections is a program based on respect—for oneself and others—aimed at increasing self-esteem of teenagers in Toomelah and Boggabilla and encouraging positive peer support dynamics. Camp Connections works with young people who have often engaged with Derech Eretz as they continue to grow into young community leaders. The most recent Camp Connections ran in 2018. 

The Young Adults Leadership Retreat is aimed at senior school students and recent graduates. It invites participants to team up with Stand Up mentors in Sydney for a week of team building activities, goal setting and planning for training, study or employment aspirations. The most recent Young Adults program ran in October 2023.

Stand Up is currently seeking funding to facilitate the next Young Adults Program. 

For all questions, please contact [email protected].

Stand Up has a unique and enduring relationship with the predominantly Aboriginal communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla. For 19 years, the affectionately-titled ‘Jewish mob’ and these communities have fostered long-lasting friendships based on mutual respect, admiration and a desire to learn and grow from one another. 

Stand Up’s partnership with Toomelah and Boggabilla primarily materialises through Derech Eretz. Derech Eretz involves young Jewish adults facilitating school holiday programs for Toomelah and Boggabilla’s primary school-aged youth, connecting with Elders and learning about First Nations histories and current affairs. Over the years, however, variations of this program have also engaged Toomelah and Boggabilla’s teenagers and young adults in structural leadership, vocational and educational opportunities.