Survivor Support and Resources
Australian Cult Survivors Support Network
The Australian Cult Survivors Network exists to give people who have exited cults, coercive control or high-control religion a place to connect. This is not a replacement for therapy, nor is it mental health support. However, with a Parliamentary Inquiry currently underway, and a mountain of unmet needs in the post-cult community, a place to connect, talk, laugh and organise is becoming more and more vital. If you are a survivor or cult leaver, or have been affected negatively by cults and high-control religion, this group might be for you.
Counselling Services
We work with the Religious Trauma Collective – a group of qualified therapists who gather and train other therapists in how to work with survivors of spiritual or religious abuse.
Expert Research and Resources
Dr Janja Lalich is one of the world’s foremost experts on cults and coercive control. We have found her information to be hugely helpful
Podcasts We Love
Websites and Blogs
-
Laura McConnell on Substack – Here, Laura McConnell writes on aspects of advocacy and survivorship, including how to centre survivors and tell their stories safely.
-
Breaking Free From Cults – Renee Spencer’s home on the internet, dedicated to identifying warning signs of cultism, raising awareness of the dangers, and providing resources and support for concerned people.
-
Clare Heath-McIvor on Substack – Here, Clare writes on cults as well as Christian nationalism, dominionism, politics and the more problematic corners of Evangelicalism.
Support Networks
-
Cult Information and Family Support Service – An Australian network formed by parents of cult victims, aiming to provide information and support to families and individuals