Australian of the Year finalist Eman Sharobeem faces ICAC probe

Eman Sharobeem, the CEO of the Immigrant Women’s Health Service, is facing allegations she used public money to renovate her home and pay personal expenses.

ICAC will hold a public inquiry next month as part of an investigation into former Australian of the Year finalist Eman Sharobeem and allegations including using NGO money to renovate her home and pay for personal expenses.

Ms Sharobeem was formerly CEO of the Immigrant Women’s Health Service.

In a statement, ICAC said its Operation Tarlo was “investigating allegations that Ms Sharobeem dishonestly exercised her official functions as IWHS CEO”.

Those allegations include “submitting invoices for reimbursement for goods and services to which she was not entitled and using an IWHS credit card to pay for personal expenses”.

ICAC is to investigate Immigration Women's Health Service CEO Eman Sharobeem. Picture: Ian Svegovic

She is also accused of authorising payment for “false invoices for facilitation fees and other services to herself and other persons to which they were not entitled (and) ... submitting, and authorising payment of, invoices by the IWHS for the renovation of her property in Fairfield”.

It is also alleged that Ms Sharobeem falsified IWHS statistics to NSW Health.

“Ms Sharobeem is also alleged to have dishonestly exercised her official functions between 2006 and 2016 by claiming to be a psychologist holding two PhD degrees and a masters degree, and further using those qualifications to treat IWHS clients and gain promotion to the position of CEO of the IWHS and the NESH (Non-English Speaking Housing Women’s Scheme),” ICAC said.

“As NESH CEO, Ms Sharobeem is alleged to have dishonestly exercised her official functions between 17 December 2013 and 23 November 2015 by authorising payments from NESH to be made to her own account, to which she was not entitled.”

Eman Sharobeem is a campaigner against forced marriages.

Dr Sharobeem at the Immigrant Women’s Health Service in Fairfield.

“Between March 2011 and November 2016, Ms Sharobeem is also alleged to have fraudulently obtained and retained appointment as a Board member of the Community Relations Commission (now Multicultural NSW) and the Anti-Discrimination Board (now part of the Department of Justice) by using false academic qualifications.”

The public inquiry will be held on May 1.