Next Step Community Services

October 2011

 Richard Eifler our CEO & Founder begins to implement his vision of creating a community agency to support children and young people across NSW. 

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November 2011

Mike Munro comes on board to support Richard with gaining support with the development phase

 

December 2011

Mike Munro commits to providing Ambassadorship to Next Step and strongly believes in the vision of providing mentoring and casework to vulnerable children and young people in the community.

 

December 2011

 Soa Palelei (International UFC Champion) comes on board as Next Step Ambassador and commits to providing social media coverage for NS.

 

January 2012

 Croque comes on board to support with marketing/social media/logo development

 

January 2012

 Meg Nelly comes on board and works with Croque and Richard to develop Next Step’s logo.

 

January 2012

Richard spends the next 5months obtaining URL/Domain name from Reconciliation Australia (working alongside the Managing Director to process a handover of the domain name.

 

February 2012

Patrick Gosselin CEO and Owner of Impact Youth Services and Jenny Grindell, HR Director for large NGO join the Board Committee

 

July 2012

Simon Chhoeu, Partner Horwood Accountants joins the Board Committee

 

September 2012

Next Step registered as a Not-for-Profit Organisation (Next Step Inc)

 

December 2012

Richard develops Outreach Policy and Procedures, Program workshops and base programs to be delivered. Richard Eifler presents to Kim Hopkins, Community Outreach Coordinator for consideration to form partnership with Wyong Neighbourhood Centre. During this period Richard is volunteering all physical resourcing to support the local community and is working 2-3 jobs to support Next Step’s children and young people within the programs for a period of 3 years as he developed Next Step’s partnerships and network to support the vision of Next Step.

 

January 2013

Richard creates community partnership with Coast and Country Meats in Wyong donates all sausages for the life of the program each fortnight.

 

January 2013

Richard creates partnership with Wyong Bakery. Wyong Bakery donates all bread, pastries for the Outreach Program each fortnight for the life of the program

 

January 2013

Tuggerah Bunnings donates BBQ, discounted flood lights for the Outreach Program

 

February 2013

Next Step begins operating Outreach Programs in Partnership with Wyong Neighbourhood Centre in Watanobbi (Central Coast NSW) each fortnight. Richard works alongside Kim Hopkins, Chad Welch, Michael Eifler in supporting the Outreach Program at Watanobbi Community Centre.

 

June 2013

Next Step supports young homeless couple and secure housing accommodation and links to support services.

 

July 2013

Risk and Advisory Committee created to support growth and development within Next Step. Kim Hopkins, Lorraine Rogic, Sean Cashin, Jenny Chapman, Lindsey Eifler joins the RAC

 

​February 2014

Rick Shaw, Partner Deloitte Touche joins the board of management and is elected to the role of Chairman.

 

March 2014

Outreach programs begin for the year. Richard over the span 2 years recruits a team of volunteers to assist in the running of the Outreach Program. Kathryn, Warren, Tara Johnson, Kathy joins as volunteers to support the Outreach Program each fortnight

 

March 2014

Richard and Rick continue to develop Outreach Policy & Procedures and OOHC Policy framework as a focus.

 

March 2014

 Operations Manual developed for volunteers

 

April 2014

5 young people assisted in mentoring program trial with Leap Frog (Richard Eifler creates first fee-for-service program funded through drop-in model of funding)

 

May 2014 – Next Step facilitates living skills program which is welcomed by all young people attending the program. (Staff teach young people how to budget, hygiene, food preparation, internet safety workshops). Next Step invites Out of Home Care agencies to send young people who may need additional living skills supports. 3 referrals from NGO’s are supported.

 

July 2014 – Richard supports homeless family living rough in a car for 3 months in Gosford and secures housing and support networks/provides bond support and assists with obtaining $1000 brokerage from Coast Shelter to purchase household goods for the family. Richard Eifler secures long term housing for the family through Coast Shelter and supports with transition and sets up connection points for the family.

 

July 2014

Richard assists crisis kinship placement (5 young people in placement) direct referral from carer and Department of Communities and Justice.

 

August 2014 – Outreach is reaching 30 young people per program and now incorporates open mic sessions, skate/scooter competitions.

 

December 2014 – Next Step Outreach Christmas party – 35 young people attend and participate in open mic, scooter competition, looming bracelet class

 

January 2015

Rick, Richard, Simon finalises constitutional objects to reflect increased supervision provision

 

January 2015

Richard with the support of the board amend constitution and is submitted to Fair Trade NSW for approval

 

January 2015

Richard approaches John McNamara to support Next Step with logistical operations mentorship.

 

January 2015

Lorraine Rogic provides Next Step with Pro-bono office space (Suit 8.3, 6 Reliance Dr Tuggerah)

 

March 2015

Leap Frog approached with proposal brief to provide mentoring services under a service agreement

 

June 2015

Richard secures Next Step’s first fee-for-service placement. Richard, Warren, Kathryn, Kathy begin mentoring supports (placement of 5)

 

June 2015

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Richard approaches Samaritans Foundation in North Hamilton and provides program proposal to engage young people in mentoring supports and assisting foster carers with implementing behaviour management care plans for children and young people in Out of Home Care. Richard created the program Triple M (Me, My Family, My Community) focussed on building safe relationships with children and young people transitioning into and out of care. Richard and Kelly Wonser receive x 2 referrals for 4 hours per week which increases to 15 mentees over the course over 12 months. Richard and Kelly provide intensive mentorship and coaching to young people across living skills, behaviour intervention, crisis support. (Fee-for-service agreement) Next Step engaged by Samaritans to provide 15hours mentoring to a young person at-risk of entering Intensive Residential Care. Richard works alongside the Foster Care and young person over a period of 8 years (Richard providing mentorship to the young person as an adult via the Outreach Program)

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July 2015

Referrals for mentoring from Samaritans Foster Care OOHC x 5 referrals. Richard employs Wayne Osborne to support the engagement of mentoring across the Hunter and Central Coast. Wayne further increases capacity to support and develop new programs such as Rock and Water which is also delivered to young people in the Outreach Program.

 

November 2015

Next Step secures partnership with Impact Care Solutions. Impact provided Next Step with $25,000 in funds to facilitate Outreach Program in Watanobbi for 12 months.

 

November 2015

Meeting with Packer Foundation (Offers to assist NS with tools to increase operational outcomes) Sam Mackay, Director Packer Foundation begins mentoring Richard Eifler in strategic Governance

 

November 2015

Meeting with Paul Moulds – Director Community Programs for the Salvation Army. Paul provides support with increasing community network and mentorship to Richard Eifler

 

November 2015

Richard Eifler submits Non-Placement Support Services Agreement and successful in Next Step securing NPSS Service Agreement with the Department of Communities and Justice

 

To be continued…