Who we are
The Choice Foundation was created to meet the needs of those living with a disability.
Motivated by a desire to create a just and fair community for people with a disability.
Our mission
To have a strong, inclusive community where every member can contribute by ensuring that a person with a disability has the same opportunity to reach their potential as anybody else. We endeavour to do this by welcoming and supporting innovative ideas and programs in the disability space.
Our belief
People are at their best when contributing to society, and making the choice to strengthen our community is a true expression of our Jewish values.
Our story
Our Founders
Taryn Boyarsky
Founder
Taryn Boyarsky is married with three daughters. She has been involved in the Sydney Jewish Community for over 25 years with involvement as a participant, as well as a committee member. Taryn obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney. She helped create Beyachad, a support group for mothers with children with disabilities who attend Moriah College, as well as establish Besimcha, a support service for these children to attend simchas in the community. Shortly after, a support group called Dad 4 Dad for the fathers of these children followed. Taryn with her husband Andrew created the first Giving Circle in Australia in 2015. She is committed to community service, and to the inclusion of all.
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 the sectors of 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.
Our Board
Ricky Kremer
Board Member
Nicole Gamerov FCA, is the Founder and CEO of MyCareSpace, an online platform that creates meaningful connections for people living with a disability, so that they can build extraordinary lives for themselves. The vision of MyCareSpace is to support people living with a disability in making better informed health and lifestyle choices by connecting them with service providers, research, and personal stories. Prior to launching her own business, Nicole had a 17-year career in finance during which she held several senior and management roles in both the investment banking and reinsurance sectors.
Nicole has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the University of Cape Town and went on to obtain her Chartered Financial Analyst in 1999. Nicole is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies. Nicole is passionate about empowering people to reach their full potential, so they can enhance the quality of their own lives.
Vicki Factor
Board Member
Vicki grew up in Melbourne and relocated to Sydney in 2022. She practised law for 16 years, then retrained in the field of architecture as a CAD operator, working with her late husband for 20 years in his architectural practice. Following her move to Sydney, Vicki completed a graduate diploma in Library and Information Services and is currently employed at Woollahra Library. From 2016 to 2022, Vicki held the position of President of Access Inc., a Jewish disability services provider based in Melbourne. She is also the secretary of Australian Friends of Yad Vashem. She has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Steven Gluckman
Board Member
Dr Steve Gluckman is a practising clinician and healthcare innovator committed to advancing inclusion and community impact.
Steve trained in paediatric surgery in Sydney before completing his MBA at MIT Sloan. He is currently the Director of Toga Health, a mental health services company, committed to developing new models for mental health care in Australia.
Steve's community service began with his leadership at Camp Sababa, and over the years, he has helped several key community initiatives grow from initial ideas to impactful programs. He has completed director training through the Australian Institute of Company Directors and brings experience from various board and advisory positions.
Passionate about mental health innovation and grassroots community development, Steve is dedicated to helping volunteers and community leaders realise their potential to create meaningful change.
Melissa Goldman
Board Member
Melissa Goldman has spent 25 years working in the child rights space. She started her career at the NSW Commission for Children and Young People and later went on to work at the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People and the Australian Human Rights Commission. She is extremely passionate about giving all young people a voice in decisions that affect them.
Melissa is now working at Mental Health Carers NSW, using her lived experience of being a mental health carer.
Melissa has a PhD in Psychology from the University of New South Wales
Suzi Parker
Board Member
Suzi Parker is the Manager of the Intellectual Disability Health team in Northern Sydney Local Health District. Prior to this role she worked for 22 years at JewishCare, where she was the head of Disability for the last 9 years of her employment. In this role she oversaw the introduction of the NDIS to JewishCare and enabled the organisation to develop several innovative new initiatives that continue to provide a range of skill building and social interaction to members of the community who live with disabilities and additional needs.
Many of these initiatives were as a result of direct funding from The Choice Foundation, such as A weekend Away, J-Jobs, Sababa SIBS and Flexible Funds, as well as developing Our Kitchen Hand (now Coolanu) and overseeing Camp Sababa.
Suzi is a Registered Nurse who also has qualifications in Couple and Family Therapy, Coaching and Criminology. Suzi has a brother with an intellectual disability, and she counts him as her guiding light when considering any activity and process around disability service provision; it must a service that would be good enough for him to attend and enjoy. Suzi is passionate about ensuring access and inclusion for all people living with disabilities and additional support needs and empowering them and their families to have the highest expectations of themselves and others.
Our Manager
Danielle Wakerman
Foundation Manager
Danielle Wakerman is The Manager of The Choice Foundation. She studied Social Work at UNSW doing a masters in Holocaust Therapies. After studying, she went on to sit on the advisory board at Tumabtin Clinic to assist in the diagnosis and assessment of children with suspected delays and disorders in development. Later in her career Danielle worked at Jewish Care providing case management to the elderly and was later engaged by Montefiore Nursing Home to set up a private care service for older Jewish people choosing to live and/or die at home rather than in a nursing setting. Her role at JCA The Choice Foundation is to help create a hub for inclusion and disability in Sydney and to gain momentum in this space. Danielle has two young daughters at home.
