What the Victorian Group-based Coercion Inquiry Report Actually Says
The findings and report from the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into cults and fringe groups are a significant and meaningful outcome for survivors in this state. They also give an important example of how group-based coercive control can be examined and considered in other states and authorities.
Where this all started
Around 18 months ago, brave survivors from Geelong Revival Centre (GRC), supported by their local MPs, engaged with the Victorian Attorney General to push for a parliamentary committee to review cults and fringe groups in the state. A brave and bold step, and one which many people said would not be possible.
Catherine, Ryan and other brave survivors from GRC, along with submissions from survivors of Truth 2x2s and Children of God, sent stories to the Attorney General for consideration, about experiences of high control group behaviour in the state of Victoria.
The Attorney General referred the matter to the Legal and Social Issues Committee. The committee began taking submissions to the inquiry around 15 months ago and heard from survivors in a series of hearings.
I personally and professionally made a submission about my experiences of leaving the Truth 2x2s and supporting others to leave high control groups.
I made a group submission with Bev Cox, on the wider Truth 2x2s background and experiences in Victoria. You can read it here.
In my role at SOCCHG, I also endorsed Beyond Belief, the white paper co-authored by Patrick McIvor, Renee Spencer, Clare Heath McIvor and Dr Janja Lalich. That white paper was crucial in setting the scene for the language and vocabulary around group-based coercive control.
What's actually in the group-based coercion report
The group-based coercion report, which you can read here, has 39 recommendations and 98 findings. It is extensive. The findings and recommendations are affirming and validating to read. I have cried each time I have read them in detail. Survivors have been believed and heard. Our experiences have been used to write this report, with us, our recommendations and our lives at its core.
It would take too many pages of a Substack essay to outline each of these findings and recommendations. I encourage you to browse them yourself (or see my summary at the bottom).
Six takeaways that stood out to me
That lived experience be placed at the centre of policy and service design, including the establishment of a lived experience advisory committee.
That the experiences of women and girls in high control groups be specifically recognised. The report acknowledged the ways these environments can create unique vulnerabilities for women and girls (and I would also like LGBTQIA+ people included in that).
That the Victorian Government consider creating a criminal offence for group based coercive control.
That further research be undertaken into the experiences of survivors of high control groups.
That front line services receive training and support to better respond to people leaving high control groups.
That the National Redress Scheme be reviewed to ensure survivors of child sexual abuse who cannot access redress are covered through a funder of last resort mechanism.
What comes next
The Victorian Government now has six months to formally respond to the report following its tabling in parliament. This response will outline how it intends to address the recommendations.
The Victorian Law Reform Commission has been asked to examine how a criminal offence for group based coercive control could be developed and applied and will report back within two years.
In the meantime, survivors, advocates and supporters will continue working together to keep these issues visible, to advocate for the implementation of the recommendations, and to push for the funding, services, policy reforms and legislative change needed to better support and protect people impacted by high control groups.
Survivor advocates are united in this. We all want our communities, families and friends to be safe in whatever group they choose to be part of. The committee and the report did an excellent job of reiterating that this is not about religious belief. This is about behaviour.
Religious belief is a right, and everyone has a right to their beliefs. It is the behaviours which are unsafe in communities that we want to see change.
Follow the ongoing work
You can follow our work at SOCCHG, and the work of advocates at CIFS and Stop Religious Coercion. RTC is also a great resource for supporting survivors.
We are hopeful the same blueprint outlined in Beyond Belief can be applied in other states, and maybe even abroad. Hello NZ and Aotearoa.
Bearing witness, and what's next for the podcast
In other news, I personally wrote about attending parliament to hear the report tabled. You can read about it here on my own Substack. It was an important milestone to bear witness to.
My health challenges have unfortunately meant that season 3 of the podcast is on hold. I am hopeful of picking it back up again in 2027. It is frustrating for me, as I was very excited about season 3, with 5 great guests locked in, including Dr Lalich. Fingers crossed I will be back recording in 2027.
In the meantime, some Substack essays, recordings and videos for the podcast will be released sporadically. Subscribe to the podcast Substack to be alerted when they go up.
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