Our services
The Melkite Charitable Foundation (MCF) partners with the Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs’ Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program. The SETS program is an early intervention, national settlement program that aims to give the right, targeted support to refugees, humanitarian entrants and other vulnerable migrants and people in our community so they can become active community members benefiting themselves and the nation.
MCF and the SETS program regularly engage and work with the three tiers of government, Federal, State/Territory and Local Government, service providers and other non-government organisations to plan, support and deliver coordinated, client-centric services, informed by research and evaluation.
Effective collaboration and coordination between all stakeholders leads to better service-delivery of education, employment, health, and wellbeing outcomes.
MCF is an approved SETS client service provider. We work with the SETS program and other government and non-Government organisations to deliver targeted services.
MCF work to—
Health and wellbeing
assist households having trouble paying their electricity, natural gas, or water bills due to a short-term financial hardship, crisis, or emergency. We assess eligibility and distribute Energy Accounts Payments Assistance scheme and Sydney Water’s Payment Assistance Scheme vouchers.
provide NSW Government food vouchers for those in need.
facilitate connections with mainstream services.
assist with paying children’s school fees for newly arrived families in their first two years in Australia.
provide education scholarships for disadvantaged children.
engage in targeted community care programs, preventative health programs, community gardens and centres, walking groups, community recreational activities.
help the elderly with aged care housing and support.
help with accessing affordable childcare.
Settlement services
The first five years of permanent residence in Australia is generally considered the settlement period. MCF deliver a range of settlement, advocacy, and multicultural services on a needs-based approach. We —
liaise with government departments to determine requirements for recognition of overseas tertiary qualifications.
are a bilingual team providing translating and interpreting services and undertake form completion.
provide resident information kits in multiple languages.
promote civic participation by assisting with Australian citizenship and passport application, promoting community festivals, events and Australia Citizenship ceremonies.
are justice advocates for refugees and asylum seekers as well as providing information on, dispute resolution, fines, and local by-laws.
advocate for family and social support through family relationship and support programs, and initiatives to protect children, youth, and families.
introduce social connections with community groups and religious organisations.
Education and training
MCF partner with TAFE NSW to deliver courses that are pathways to employment and integration. We provide—
Our support network of grant providers, sponsors and partners, enables the Melkite Charitable Foundation to deliver humanitarian settlement, citizenship, and school leaver employment support programs; education, health, and aged care services; refugee advocacy and government grants to our local community, refugees, humanitarian entrants and other vulnerable migrants.
As a not-for-profit foundation we rely on our support network to be able to offer free our community programs and services. Our family of support networks align with our vision to uphold the dignity, equality, and opportunities that all Australians deserve, equally.
Only through our support network can we provide the short-term assistance that people in need seek, so they in turn can one day be contributors to a better Australia.
We proudly acknowledge and value our family of support networks—
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Settlement Services International (SSI) is a leading community-based, not-for-profit organisation that supports newcomers and other Australians by providing quality services and programs in the areas of refugee settlement, employment, homecare, local area coordination to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other mainstream services in the community.
As well SSI undertake extensive research on domestic and family violence, access to employment, regional settlement, and early intervention. SSI provides many more services and works with all people who have experienced vulnerability to build their capacity and contribute to our community.
SSI leads the NSW Settlement Partnership (NSP). The NSP delivers settlement services in agreed areas of NSW under the Department of Home Affairs’ Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program.
Our support network
If you would like to chat about how we can collaborate, please get in touch, with Najwa Touma.
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Eastern Christian Welfare Australia (ECWA) formed in 2014 when 11 Middle Eastern Churches in Australia saw the need to provide unified support for refugees, predominately children, women, and elderly of the wider Middle East.
The ongoing refugee crises are described by the United Nations as the largest humanitarian crises since World War II.
ECWA is approved by the Australian Government to sponsor visa applicants for priority processing of their Humanitarian Program visa application. ECWA has assisted over 4,000 refugees from Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, UAE, and Pakistan migrate to Australia through the Humanitarian Program.
Grant providers
Sponsor
Partners
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My Guardian provides a professional, community-based service that assists the elderly and people with disabilities to remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their homes.
They provide skilled, personalised care services and when you choose My Guardian, you become family.
As one of their family, they offer:
Personalised home help―housekeeping, cooking, shopping, errands, overnight care, live-in assistance.
Health services―nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, palliative, respite and transitional care and dietician.
Lifestyle support―companionship, recreational and connected technology
Active lifestyle―transportation and vacations.
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Holy Spirit Catholic College is a co-educational Catholic systemic school. It fosters an inclusive faith community. Holy Spirit Catholic College offers programs that educate students in a holistic manner. Opportunities for the spiritual, intellectual, and social development are available to every student. Their approach to teaching and learning acknowledges the needs of students in the community who have English as an additional language.
Holy Spirit Catholic College embraces the differences in academic ability and offer academically gifted students the Newman Selective Gifted Education Program and students with learning difficulties or disabilities, the support of their Diverse Learning Needs department.
Hotsprings was founded in 1993 and is a leading apparel supplier for the retail clothing industry. Hotsprings designs, sources, and manufactures apparel programs for many of Australia's leading retailer house brands. They are a preferred supplier to all major mixed merchandise retailers in Australia, with their Branded, Licensed and Private Label apparel found throughout Australia and internationally.
Hotsprings take pride in their ability to meet and exceed the demands of today’s global marketplace, with a commitment to quality, innovation, impeccable service, and meeting the needs of today’s trends.
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Metro Assist was established in 1986 and provides an extensive suite of community services including migrant settlement, family support and early intervention, financial support, tenancy services and community development. Metro Assist’s, service area includes Ashfield, Bankstown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury, Marrickville, and Strathfield Local Government Areas.
Metro Assist, with over 37 years’ experience have specialist knowledge of the experiences and needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
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The Multicultural Network Inc. (TMN) is a secular, non-profit, independent community based and managed organisation. TMN works to support, resource, and advocate for the diverse communities in South West Sydney to bring about equity, positive social change and improve the lives of the most vulnerable.
The Multicultural Network Inc. (TMN) was established in 1984 and is one of the leading multicultural advocacy associations in NSW. This reputation has been earned through conducting research, programs, education, grass-roots campaigns, advocacy, presenting to services and government and taking a leading role in the facilitation of effective service provision across the community care sector.
TMN represents the diverse interests of the community amongst the wider Australian society, working towards an inclusive, harmonious, and rich relationship with indigenous, Anglo-Australian, and ethnic communities.
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The Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) was established in 2016 and its aim is to connect local businesses and support their growth in the Canterbury Bankstown Local Government Area (LGA) and beyond. CBCC provides Canterbury Bankstown’s business sector with a common voice, that hears their local needs, advances their interests, and supports their diverse communities’ economic and social prosperity, through direct advocacy, to encourage local investment.
CBCC aims to create a Canterbury Bankstown LGA that is the prime destination to live, work, study, and do business.
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Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) have been supporting communities for 40 years. They are a not-for-profit organisation based in the Liverpool CBD. Liverpool has one of the highest rates of resettlement and migration in NSW.
Western Sydney MRC works with newly arrived migrants, refugees, and diverse communities to provide:
leading casework services
family services, leadership programs
playgroups
disability and mental health supports
youth activities
community development programs ― leadership, capacity building, and one-2-one support
information sessions―safe driving, employment, education, and citizenship
event assistance (on/offline).
their approach to casework, projects, services, events, and program design are centered on their clients’ and diverse communities’ requirements.
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CatholicCare is a social services agency of the Archdiocese of Sydney. CatholicCare works with the Sydney community to realise their shared vision―a society in which everyone feels valued and supported.
CatholicCare services help people across Sydney to live to their potential by providing holistic support with school counselling and relationships, parenting, ageing, home care, disability, pastoral, allied health services, and mental wellbeing.
Catholic Care provide help for you, your family, and your community.
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Holy Saviour School is an independent, co-educational Catholic primary school founded on the Melkite Catholic Apostolic tradition. It is of fundamental importance to the school leaders, teachers, and administrative staff that their children are happy, feel safe, free to learn, secure in their environment, and are confident in themselves.
The school was established in 2000 by the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania. It has a proud reputation for quality learning and teaching and services a growing, vibrant, and diverse community from the local area and further afield.
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Technical and Further Education NSW (TAFE NSW) is Australia's largest and leading vocational education and training provider. TAFE NSW aim is to skill the workforce for the future through high quality, personalised education, and training.
TAFE NSW is committed to maximising opportunities for people from culturally diverse backgrounds. It is a place for all students to gain the education and skills they need for the jobs they want―regardless of cultural traditions, languages, or background. TAFE NSW provides specialised support if English is not your first language and ensures that participation, completions and pathways to vocational education and employment are tailored to best serve people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
TAFE NSW has a great reputation for industry and business partnerships. These connections ensure students get the highest level of practical training, meaning they provide a high quality, job-ready workforce. TAFE consistently adapt their courses and facilities to suit local community and industry needs.
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OzHarvest was founded in 2004 and is a leading food rescue organisation on a mission to ‘Nourish our Country’ by stopping good food from going to waste and delivering it to charities that help feed people in need.
OzHarvest is committed to halving food waste by 2030, inspiring and influencing others to do the same, and transforming lives through education.
Their yellow vans are out in communities every day, collecting quality surplus food from donors, including supermarkets, cafes, delis, restaurants, corporate kitchens, airlines, hotels, and other food businesses. OzHarvest’s challenge is to create a sustainable food culture that can be shared by all which needs all of us to play our part
English language and literacy programs for adults to improve language and assist transition into the community.
adult education and skill training courses, that qualify for trades, upskilling and trade licensing requirements.
education and training courses for smooth integration into the Australian workforce environment and culture.
workplace and job assistance programs to be ready for job interviews and applying for a job.
community-based volunteer programs.
introduction to local libraries as knowledge and learning hubs.
