Egyptian-Australian Coptic Community: Charity, Volunteering and Outreach Initiatives
If you have driven through Blacktown, Parramatta or Woolloomooloo on a weekday evening and seen volunteers handing out food, there is a good chance you have already seen the Coptic community’s outreach work without knowing it.
The Egyptian-Australian Coptic community runs some of the most consistent street-level charity work in Sydney and Melbourne, much of it happening in parks and car parks on weekday evenings, largely out of public view. This guide covers the main organisations behind that work, what each one actually does, and how to volunteer or donate to the one that matches what you’re looking for.
Which Organisation Should You Contact?
If you want street-level help for homeless people in Sydney, contact COCOS. If you want to support tax-deductible international relief work, contact COPTS Inc. If you want to sponsor a specific family overseas, contact Coptic Hope Charity. If you or someone you know needs counselling or casework support, contact Exodus.
What the Organisations Do
COCOS: Feeding the Homeless Across Sydney
The Coptic Orthodox Community Outreach Service, known as COCOS, is the most visible street-level charity connected to the community. It is a registered charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) with ABN 35 131 816 531, operating under the Coptic Orthodox Church Diocese of Sydney and Affiliated Regions.
COCOS currently runs weekly outreach services at five Sydney locations:
- Blacktown, Alpha Park (opposite Blacktown Westpoint), Wednesdays, 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm
- Gosford, 30 William Street, outside R&R Cafe at Gosford Central Plaza (please confirm the current day and time directly with COCOS, as this was not consistently listed)
- Parramatta, Prince Alfred Square (opposite St Patrick’s Cathedral), Tuesdays, 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm
- Liverpool, Memorial Park, Thursdays, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm, fortnightly
- Woolloomooloo, corner of Bourke and Cathedral Street, Tuesdays, 8.30 pm to 10.00 pm
At each location, volunteers distribute hot meals, clothing, non-perishable food, and basic hygiene items like soap, razors and shampoo. COCOS also runs a free emotional support phone line on 1800 788 801 for people who need someone to talk to outside of the weekly outreach visits.
The goal is to help people back into mainstream life through a network they can rely on. The same volunteers turn up week after week, which is what lets them build real relationships with the people they serve rather than one-off interactions.
COPTS Inc: International Relief From Kareela, Sydney
COPTS Inc, officially the Copticare Relief Fund, was established in 1986 in Sydney by a group of volunteers who wanted to help communities in Egypt, Africa and Thailand. Its ABN is 77 774 185 422, and it is registered with the ACNC.
COPTS publishes figures on hospital support, literacy and vocational training, and clean water and sewage projects reaching a large number of people over its history. These figures come from the organisation’s own reporting, so if you’re weighing up where to give, it’s worth asking COPTS directly for their latest audited impact report before donating a significant amount.
Donations to COPTS are tax-deductible, which is worth knowing if you’re looking for DGR-endorsed charities to support before the end of the financial year. COPTS welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds, including professionals, students and retirees.
Coptic Hope Charity: Family Sponsorship From Melbourne
Coptic Hope Charity is an Australian organisation established in 1998, registered with the ACNC under ABN 90 108 427 202. Its work focuses on families living in extreme poverty in Egypt and Fiji.
Its main program is Family-to-Family Sponsorship. For $60 a month, a donor supports one specific family through the diocesan network in Egypt, covering food, clothing and improved living conditions. The organisation reports supporting more than 1,200 families across areas including El Monifia, Deshina, Tanta and Hadek El Koda.
Beyond sponsorship, Coptic Hope has funded building projects, including concrete roofs for families in incomplete housing, supplied medical incubators to Egyptian hospitals, and set up sewing workshops to create local income opportunities. Around Easter and Christmas, it distributes food hampers, typically containing milk, eggs, cheese, chicken, pasta and rice, to around 1,500 families per occasion.
Coptic Hope states that close to 100 per cent of donated funds go directly to people in need, since committee members volunteer their time rather than draw a wage. The organisation has also provided emergency relief in the past, including support after the 2020 Beirut explosion, the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption and tsunami, and the 2019 to 2020 Black Summer bushfires, the latter in partnership with the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.
Exodus: Counselling and Casework Rooted in the Community
Exodus is a not-for-profit organisation that grew out of the Coptic Orthodox community’s need for professional mental health and welfare support. Over more than 20 years it has grown from a volunteer-run service into an organisation with paid counsellors and community development workers on staff.
Exodus doesn’t limit its services to the Coptic community. It offers casework, counselling and community programs to the general public, and its staff run mental health and community education workshops.
Volunteers are central to how Exodus operates, and the organisation accepts people with limited availability, offering flexible roles across community events, mentoring, practical support and behind-the-scenes work. If you’re looking to get in touch, search for Exodus Youth Worx or contact the organisation through your local Coptic Orthodox parish, since contact details vary by program.
Prison Chaplaincy in NSW
The Coptic Orthodox Church also runs a prison chaplaincy service across NSW correctional facilities. A lead chaplain visits each correctional centre roughly every four to five weeks, serving both male and female inmates, with services including Bible study, the sacrament of Confession, and Holy Communion.
This work sits within the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee of NSW framework, meaning it operates under formal oversight rather than informally. If you’d like to confirm current chaplaincy contacts, your local parish office is the most reliable starting point.
How to Get Involved
Donating money: COPTS and Coptic Hope Charity both offer tax-deductible donations with receipts. COCOS accepts money, food and blanket donations, though it’s worth checking directly with them for the current preferred donation method.
Volunteering your time: Each organisation has different requirements depending on the role. Roles involving contact with children or vulnerable people, such as outreach nights or youth mentoring, will typically require a Working With Children Check and a short induction before you start. It’s reasonable to ask any of these organisations what checks and onboarding steps apply before you commit your time.
Getting support: If you or someone you know needs a meal, clothing, someone to talk to, or counselling, COCOS and Exodus are the two organisations set up to help directly, and neither requires you to be Coptic or Christian to access their services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are donations to these organisations tax-deductible?
COPTS and Coptic Hope Charity confirm their donations are tax-deductible. COCOS accepts donations but does not clearly state its tax-deductible status, so it’s worth confirming directly with them before donating for tax purposes.
Do I need to be Coptic Orthodox to volunteer or receive help?
No. Exodus and COCOS both state their services and volunteer programs are open to the wider public, not just the Coptic community.
Do I need a Working With Children Check to volunteer?
If the role involves direct contact with children or vulnerable people, such as youth mentoring or outreach nights, a Working With Children Check is generally required. Ask the specific organisation what applies to the role you’re interested in.
How do I check that a charity is genuinely registered in Australia?
You can search any Australian charity’s ABN and registration status for free on the ACNC Charity Register. All four organisations mentioned here are registered with the ACNC.
Can I volunteer if I only have a few hours a month?
Yes. Exodus specifically mentions accepting volunteers with limited availability across events, mentoring and behind-the-scenes roles, and COCOS’s rotating weekly locations also make it possible to help occasionally rather than every week.
What is the difference between COCOS and Exodus if I need help myself?
COCOS focuses on immediate, practical support such as food, clothing and hygiene items delivered at street locations. Exodus focuses on ongoing counselling, casework and mental health support. If you need an urgent meal or supplies, COCOS is the faster starting point. If you need ongoing support, Exodus is better suited.
