Farag Gobran OAM

Farag Gobran OAM was both joyful and humbled when he heard was to be awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to youth, and to aged welfare, and to the Egyptian community.

“To assist those in need and see the smiles of some of the most vulnerable has been my greatest joy,” he said.

Mr Gobran has spent more than 35 years raising funds for projects to support underprivileged Egyptians as well as helping countless young Australians.

He is the founder of Exodus Youth Worx, which offers mental health counselling, family and domestic violence support, addiction recovery and legal aid, and is honorary director of St Maurice Aged Care. 

He was also former president, vice president and founding member of The Australian Egyptian Forum Council, and is director and co-founder of Coptic Orthodox Providence Tutelage Services Copticare Relief Fund.

Mr Gobran has spent his life serving the Coptic Orthodox Church, including as former treasurer at both St George Coptic Orthodox Church, Kensington, and St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College. He was also a board member and member of various committees at the Pre-Diocesan Coptic Orthodox International Board. 

Seeing improvement in the lives of those he helps is the greatest impact of his work, Mr Gobran said. 

“All those to whom we lend a hand have unfortunately been born in abject poverty, lacking some of the most basic human rights such as education, healthcare, clean water, and housing; otherwise they are local youth who have been incarcerated, addicted, abused or abandoned.”

“It is the direct impact on the lives of these countless others that shows the fruits of my labour.

“I would like to thank the late Michael Sidhom, co-founder of the COPTS, Debbie Armanious, founder of Exodus and Professor Abdel Messih Malak AM and many others who sponsored my nomination. I am grateful to my wife, Sue Gobran, and my children for their unwavering support over the years.”