What we do
The Choice Foundation strives to give all people more choices in how they want to live their lives.
We provide grants for organisations looking to create innovative projects and programs for the benefit of people living with a disability and their families in our community.
We have the choice to make a difference
How we work
You have a great idea about how you can support people with a disability in our community
You fill in the online application form
Someone will be in touch to discuss your idea further
If successful , and you are not a JCA constituent organisation, you will be linked in with one of the organisations for the running of the program
The Choice Foundation will support the program financially and be available to support the day to day running of the program
2024 Funded Programs
J-Jobs
JewishCare
An innovative customised employment program that works with individuals with a disability who are interested in exploring open employment.
The program has now engaged many companies and enables the work place to carve out
appropriate, meaningful jobs for the J-Jobs participants.
UpSkill
JewishCare
Participants are welcomed to partake in a variety of skill building events to further enhance their life skills and employment opportunities.
Some UPSKILL programs have included cyber safety, first aid, finance management, barista training and communication skills.
A weekend Away
JewishCare
This highly sought after initiative offers an opportunity for 3-4 people with a disability to go away for a weekend with 3-4 people without a disability.
Based at holiday homes generously lent out for the weekend by families in the community, A Weekend Away provides a place for some much-needed time out and a space where real friendships can form.
Brave Talks
JewishCare
Brave Talks is an impactful event where individuals courageously take the stage to share deeply personal stories, aiming to destigmatise taboo topics and spark meaningful conversations.
Brave Talks aims to normalise conversations around mental health, trauma, and other sensitive issues, ultimately fostering a culture of openness and support.
School Support
The Emanuel School
The Emanuel School has used their learning support funding in their Primary School to engage an external support teacher to provide classroom assistance and 1:1 for students who need it.
School Support
Kesser Torah College
Kesser Torah College has been using their learning support funding in their highschool to set up additional teaching opportunities 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 to the Junior school, allowing for supported teaching models and supported classrooms.
Students are thriving under the care of learning support staff.
Pathways
Maccabi
A program directed to bring sporting opportunities to people with disabilities into mainstream sport at Maccabi, this includes either 1:1 support in schools or engagement into existing team sports.
The participants engagement can be through sport, volunteering, or recognising valued inclusion and sportsmanship.
Surfs Up
Maccabi
Providing a safe and fun environment where individuals can develop ocean awareness, surf skills and fitness whilst socialising.
Run by Let's Go Surfing and located at Bondi, the surf session is combined with a picnic where our surfers can make lifelong friendships with people that share a love for the ocean or just love a good time.
2020-2023 Funded Programs
Wheelchair Basketball/NSW Roadshow
Maccabi All Abilities
A program run by NSW Roadshow, currently over 125 Jewish children have been impacted by this program. These children have heard from and experienced playing wheelchair basketball with a Para-Olympian. 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.
Flex Funds
JewishCare
Funding to support families in financial stress in relation to their child’s or their own disability.
Camp Sababa extension programs
JewishCare
Camp Sababa run additional programs via JewishCare for alumni, siblings and participants to ensure the connection and quality of the work doesn’t fade after they leave Sababa. There are 3 separate components to this program including: 1. Sababa Re (union), 2. Post Sababa, and 3. Sababa Sibs.
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).
Group Homes
JewishCare
A Jewish group home will be set up with this funding to house up to 4 men with a disability and a support worker.
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.
2019 funded Programs
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.
Dance classes
Maccabi All Abilities
A weekly dance class for all abilities taught by top dance teachers and run through the Maccabi All Abilities team.
Scoping Project
Sydney Jewish Museum
A formal look into the museum and its accessibility. While looking at other museums around the world and how our museum can offer best practice.
Learning support officer
Kesser Torah
Funding to employ a full time learning support officer in the high school for the first time.
Who we work with
We work in two ways
We encourage all JCA constituent organisations to consider how they would make their work place more inclusive, and apply for funding. This should be considered in areas of the physical space, the environment, the social experience, and the opportunities for all.
We work with individuals in the community who have an idea about how inclusive practice could best be achieved. We then assist them to identify which JCA organisation could run this idea through their existing set up. Should this program be successful for funding by The Choice Foundation, the level of involvement of the individual will be based on an agreement between all parties (and their desire to be involved!), whilst the JCA organisation will manage the funds and provide governance and support.
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 and Governance
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
Nicky Franks
Daniel Grynberg
Dr Steven Gluckman
Nicole Gamerov
Shari Lowe (JCA representative)
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 which 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 their 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.