The choice is yours.
Our story
The Choice Foundation funds programs that are designed to support and strengthen our community in the areas of disability and mental health.
How we work
At The Choice Foundation there are two ways that our programs and projects come to life.
People with big ideas.
We’re talking about individuals who have an innovative idea about how inclusive practice or mental health could best be achieved in our community.
Whether its a a support service, program or exeperience that brings the community together, tell us about your big idea and then, if successful, we will fund your idea and assist you to identify which JCA organisation could best run your idea.
Forward thinking organisations.
We encourage all JCA constituent organisations to think about how they would make their workplace either more inclusive or improve outcomes and deliver mental health support.
Got an idea? Reach out to discuss it with our team.
Our Team
Taryn Boyarsky
Founder
Taryn Boyarsky is married with three daughters and has worked in community for over 25 years.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney, Taryn worked as a Speech Pathologist. Taryn then found herself working back in community, creating Beyachad, a support group for mothers with children with disabilities who attend Moriah College, as well Besimcha, a support service for these children to attend celebrations in the community.
From this, Taryn created a support group called Dad 4 Dad for the fathers of these children. Taryn and her husband Andrew then created the first Giving Circle in Australia in 2015.
Danielle Wakerman
Manager, The Choice Foundation
Danielle Wakerman is the Manager of The Choice Foundation and directs the disability Foundation, where she leads the organisation’s vision to create a connected, inclusive disability ecosystem across Sydney.
With a background in Social Work from UNSW and postgraduate studies in Holocaust Therapies, Danielle’s career has spanned clinical practice, advisory leadership, and service innovation. She has served on the advisory board of the Tumabtin Clinic, supporting the diagnosis and assessment of children with developmental delays. She has worked extensively in aged care through Jewish Care and Montefiore, where she established a private home-care service.
Across every role, Danielle has focused on one core principle: programs should be built with communities, not simply delivered to them. At The Choice Foundation, Danielle works at the intersection of families, organisations, and communal leadership to identify unmet needs, reduce duplication, and design responsive programs grounded in lived experience. She is deeply committed to strengthening collaboration across the sector and ensuring people with disability and their families feel seen, supported, and connected.
Tal Rabinovitz, MPsych (Clin) is a clinical psychologist and mental health strategist working at the intersection of clinical practice, systems design and community innovation. She serves as Director of Mental Health at The Choice Foundation, where she leads strategy, governance and funding for initiatives strengthening the mental health ecosystem of the Sydney Jewish community.
Tal has extensive experience treating complex mental health disorders across public and private sectors. Earlier in her career she worked in consumer insight consulting with global brands including Coca-Cola, Uncle Toby’s, Lion and Pernod Ricard. She also developed one of the first online leadership programs integrating polyvagal theory, ACT and CBT, translating emerging nervous system science into practical tools for resilience and performance.
Previously, Tal served as Chief Mental Health Officer at JewishCare, where she consulted on change management, designed and launched a organisation-wide triage service and co-created Brave Talks, a large-scale storytelling initiative that helped reshape community conversations about mental health.
Tal Rabinovitz
Director of Mental Health,
The Choice Foundation
Andrew Boyarsky
Founder
Andrew Boyarsky is a qualified engineer and the managing director of the diversified property investment and development company Anka, founded by his parents Alex and Vera in 1968.
Andrew has been instrumental in further developing the family’s philanthropic interests in a number of sectors, including the Arts, Education, Medical Research, Israel and Jewish Life.
He is currently president of UIA NSW and a member of the JCA Building and Capital Committee. He is a past board member of the Hakoah Club.
Taryn Boyarsky
Our Board
Andrew Boyarsky
Melissa Goldman
Steve Gluckman
Vicki Factor
Ricky Kremer
Nicole Gamerov
Robyn Gerber
Daniel Grynberg
Suzi Parker
Previous Board Members
Garric Lazarus
Nicky Franks
Shari Lowe
How funds are managed
The JCA Investment Committee determines, and then oversees, how JCA’s financial resources and other assets are to be invested and managed. The Investment Committee recommends policy to the Board of Governors with regards to investment criteria relating to risk, term and target rate of return and oversees its implementation. The investment criteria have regard to the nature of JCA as a charitable institution, its Community responsibilities and cash flow.
The Committee is composed of independent leaders with significant investment experience, and the JCA CEO (ex-officio). The JCA Investment Committee has a long-term return objective of 4% plus CPI, which it has historically met for its long-term asset investments.
Structure & Governance
All Advisory Board members have professional experience in and are committed to the disability sector. This gives them a full understanding of the challenges and complexities that are encountered daily by families, carers, and service providers touched by disability.
The JCA Board of Governors is made up of 23 Presidents of independent charities, as well as seven Honorary Life Governors and the JCA Executive Committee. The Advisory Board will make recommendations on disbursement to a JCA Board of Governors meeting. As a JCA endowment, The Choice Foundation distributions can only be made to and through JCA member organisations.
The Choice Foundation has been established as an endowment fund governed by JCA in Sydney. JCA will assist our Advisory Board in receiving and reviewing eligible applications for projects and programs in NSW and ACT. The Advisory Board will then make annual recommendations to the JCA Board of Governors, for the distribution of funds.
The Choice Foundation’s Advisory Board is made up of the following people:
Taryn Boyarsky
Vicki Factor
Melissa Goldman
Suzi Parker
Dr Steven Gluckman
Garric Lazarus (JCA representative)
Previously Funded Programs
These programs continue to be available in the community.
Pathways Maccabi
Maccabi All Abilities
A program directed to bring sporting opportunities to people with disabilities into mainstream sport at Maccabi, includes either 1:1 support in schools or engagement in existing team sports.
The participants’ engagement can be through sport, volunteering, or recognising valued inclusion and sportsmanship.
J-Jobs
JewishCare
A training and job matching solution through JewishCare with the intention to place people with a disability in roles suited to them within our community organisations and beyond.
School Support
Kesser Torah College
Kesser Torah College has been using its learning support funding in its high school to set up additional teaching opportunities and classes for students who require further guidance and support in their learning in the older years.
School Support
Masada College
Masada College has implemented a head of learning support role in the Junior school, allowing for supported teaching models and supported classrooms.
Students are thriving under the care of learning support staff.
Wheelchair Basketball
JewishCare
A program run by NSW Roadshow that has impacted over 125 Jewish children. These children experienced playing wheelchair basketball with a Paralympian.
There was an overwhelming response from students about how much they enjoyed this experience and what they gained personally from the opportunity, by talking candidly with a wheelchair sportsperson.
Upskill
JewishCare
An opportunity to learn skills with likeminded people who are all abilities and interested in furthering their knowledge (i.e. barista, cocktail making, floristry etc).
School Support
The Emmanuel School
The Emmanuel School has used their learning support funding in their Primary School to engage an external support teacher to provide classroom assistance and 1:1 support for students who need it.
A Weekend Away
JewishCare
3-4 people with a disability will be able to go away for a weekend with 3-4 people without a disability to a holiday home generously lent out for the weekend. The intention is to allow for real and authentic friendships to form and for opportunities to have some time out with friends to be a reality.
Sababa Sibs
JewishCare
Funding to provide fun and inclusive programs for siblings of children with disabilities. A space for them to relax, connect with peers and enjoy time just for themselves.
Sababa Reunion
JewishCare
Designed to bring together former Camp Sababa participants, this program offers social events and activities that help maintain the friendships and community built through camp. A chance to reconnect and maintain the strong bonds built from camp.
Making a difference is a choice.
There are different ways you can get involved at The Choice Foundation.
If you or someone you know would like to participate in one of our programs, please reach out and let us know.
Join our community
Volunteering for one of our programs is a rewarding experience. Meet incredible people and experience The Choice Foundation for yourself!
Volunteer
Do you have an innovative idea that centres around inclusion or mental health?
Click below to get the ball rolling.
Share your ideas
