About Us

The Melkite Charitable Foundation (MCF) was established in 2001 and is the not-for-profit, charitable arm of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand, and All Oceania.

With a small, well managed team MCF provides services to its community, like settlement assistance, refugee advocacy, citizenship and immigration support, aged care and social services support, conversational English classes, education scholarships for children who show great potential but require an uplifting hand, Settlement Engagement and Transitional Support programs funded by the Department of Home Affairs and more.

Where we are able, we will initiate emergency Appeals to directly support families through war, disasters, and displacement. MCF donations are directed to essential humanitarian assistance of food, fresh water, sanitation, emergency shelter, removal of debris and medical supplies.

MCF is an exemplar of what a not-for-profit foundation can achieve through hard work and a steadfast vision.

Our vision is to uphold the dignity, equality, and opportunities that all members of our community deserve, particularly refugees, humanitarian entrants and other vulnerable migrants. Our mission is to support the integration and development of people with diverse skills and cultural and linguistic backgrounds  who have settled in Australia. To help shape communities where there is recognition of individual rights and responsibilities. Our values are justice, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity; advocacy, we value diversity and support our community members who are eager to contribute to their new home and integrity, to work professionally and be, accountable and transparent in everything we do.

Our People

The Melkite Charitable Foundation’s management team are highly qualified and have extensive experience across the administrative and pastoral work of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy, charitable foundations, business, and finance. The calibre of the team reflects their dedication, integrity, and excellence to the work they undertake in the local community.

Featured
Bishop Robert Rabbat DD
Bishop Robert Rabbat DD

Bishop Rabbat is the third Melkite Catholic Eparch of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania. He worked as a chemical engineer before entering the seminary in Lebanon, in 1989. Bishop Rabbat was ordained in 1994 and served at St Anthony the Great Church, in Achrafieh, Lebanon.

Bishop Rabbat is a member of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and The Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Relations. He is also the President of the Australasian Middle East Christian Apostolic Churches.

In 2005, Bishop Rabbat was elected Rector of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Boston, America where he served until 2010 when he was appointed Eparch of the Melkite Catholic Church of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania. He was confirmed as Eparch by Pope Benedict XVI on 14 June 2011.

Bishop Rabbat has a Bachelor of Science (Chemical Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Mathematics), Ohio State University USA.

Monica Chahoud
President
Monica Chahoud
President

Bio

Monica joined the Melkite Catholic Eparchy as Coordinator of the Melkite Welfare Association in 2016 and was appointed President of the Melkite Charitable Foundation in 2022.

Skills and experience

Monica has over 15 years’ experience in the Melkite Catholic Eparchy administration, community welfare and charitable programs. She was a delegate of the Fifth Plenary Council in Australia from 2018―2022. Monica also represented the Eparchy in 2022 at the World Meeting of Families, in Rome.

In her role as President of the Melkite Charitable Foundation, Monica is responsible for refugee case settlement, the delivery of community development projects, liaising with State and Federal Members of Parliament, overseeing the execution and delivery of all Federal and State Melkite grants, establishing partnerships with local businesses, and maintaining partnerships with key government agencies.

She has training in leadership, emotional intelligence, mental health, domestic and family violence.

Monica holds a Certificate of Business Management.

President
Edward Chahoud CPA
Vice President
Edward Chahoud CPA
Vice President

Bio

Edward has been Vice President of the Melkite Charitable Foundation since 2020.

Skills and experience

Edward has more than 45 years’ experience in audit and accountancy. He manages his successful accountancy practice―Edward Chahoud & Co Accountants― which he established in 1985. Prior to this, Edward was an accountant at Fairfax Ltd and John Squires Ltd. Edward is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), Registered Company Auditor (RCA), Conveyancer, and a Justice of the Peace.

Edward is deeply committed to community welfare and charitable programs. He has served in senior leadership roles for the Melkite Catholic Eparchy over many years and on the Melkite Charitable Foundation since its formation in 2001.

He is also Chair of St Joseph’s Belmore Parish, Finance Committee.

Edward has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) University of Technology, Sydney, Advanced Diploma (Conveyancing) University of Technology, Sydney, CPA, RCA, JP.

Vice President
Najwa Touma
Coordinator
Najwa Touma
Coordinator

Bio

Najwa was appointed Coordinator of the Melkite Charitable Foundation in 2023, prior to that she held the position of Project Officer from 2010.

Skills and experience

In her role as Coordinator, Najwa undertakes the case management for refugee settlement, coordinates community development projects and events, maintains collaborative work relationships with key government agencies and provides administrative support.

She has training in marketing and branding, program implementation, group facilitation, leadership, mental health, and domestic and family violence.

Najwa has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Damascus University, Syria and a Certificate of Business Administration.

Coordinator