Decult
@decult.bsky.social
We are a charitable organisation run by volunteers, dedicated to raising cult awareness in Aotearoa New Zealand. In October 2024, we held the first cult conference in Australasia - with more education and events to come!
We are grateful for Ulrike’s input which helps to inform our part of the world - and that the Victoria Parliament listened to her.
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM
We are grateful for Ulrike’s input which helps to inform our part of the world - and that the Victoria Parliament listened to her.
When asked by MPs which areas in this work need the most attention, she replied: “The most important part is children and youth. We often forget about the children and need to pay special attention to them. They don’t normally go and seek help and are often overlooked.”
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM
When asked by MPs which areas in this work need the most attention, she replied: “The most important part is children and youth. We often forget about the children and need to pay special attention to them. They don’t normally go and seek help and are often overlooked.”
Ulrike: “Our mission is to document and provide information on the dangers of cults and cult-like activities. So our work is really about measuring the danger of an activity, not about whether a group is a cult or not.”
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Ulrike: “Our mission is to document and provide information on the dangers of cults and cult-like activities. So our work is really about measuring the danger of an activity, not about whether a group is a cult or not.”
Her federal office is an excellent example of the kind of state-run agency which Decult would love to see established here too. It’s an interface between institutions, is independent and sits outside of the ministry.
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Her federal office is an excellent example of the kind of state-run agency which Decult would love to see established here too. It’s an interface between institutions, is independent and sits outside of the ministry.
Last year, she came to Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time as a speaker at our conference and after that spoke at a special dinner at Parliament in Wellington.
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Last year, she came to Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time as a speaker at our conference and after that spoke at a special dinner at Parliament in Wellington.
You can watch the next hearings on live stream today from 3:15PM AEDT (5:15PM NZDT).
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved...
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved...
Hearings - Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups - Parliament of Victoria
www.parliament.vic.gov.au
November 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
You can watch the next hearings on live stream today from 3:15PM AEDT (5:15PM NZDT).
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved...
www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved...
1️⃣ Don’t conflate religion with cults, many are commercial, not spiritual.
2️⃣ Recognise shunning and coercive control as criminal offences.
3️⃣ Deregister cult-linked charities, no more tax breaks for front businesses.
4️⃣Train mental health professionals in cult recovery therapy.
2️⃣ Recognise shunning and coercive control as criminal offences.
3️⃣ Deregister cult-linked charities, no more tax breaks for front businesses.
4️⃣Train mental health professionals in cult recovery therapy.
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
1️⃣ Don’t conflate religion with cults, many are commercial, not spiritual.
2️⃣ Recognise shunning and coercive control as criminal offences.
3️⃣ Deregister cult-linked charities, no more tax breaks for front businesses.
4️⃣Train mental health professionals in cult recovery therapy.
2️⃣ Recognise shunning and coercive control as criminal offences.
3️⃣ Deregister cult-linked charities, no more tax breaks for front businesses.
4️⃣Train mental health professionals in cult recovery therapy.
More of our suggestions from the last hearing:
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
More of our suggestions from the last hearing:
It’s great to see that one of our key recommendations - to establish helplines and information centres - will be discussed further today.
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
It’s great to see that one of our key recommendations - to establish helplines and information centres - will be discussed further today.
Today, the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee will hear from Ulrike Schiesser from the Federal Office of Cult Affairs in Austria who gave a presentation at Decult 2024.
Both Janja Lalich and Anke Richter highlighted her work in their presentations and it landed.
Both Janja Lalich and Anke Richter highlighted her work in their presentations and it landed.
November 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Today, the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee will hear from Ulrike Schiesser from the Federal Office of Cult Affairs in Austria who gave a presentation at Decult 2024.
Both Janja Lalich and Anke Richter highlighted her work in their presentations and it landed.
Both Janja Lalich and Anke Richter highlighted her work in their presentations and it landed.
ABC did an excellent write-up of the hearing, including some of the interventions our director Anke Richter recommended to parliament, such as specific support services for cult leavers.
You can read the full article here: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
You can read the full article here: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Mirriam grew up in the Church of Scientology and now is pushing for change
A Victorian parliament probe into the impacts of cults and organised fringe groups hears lived experience testimony from two women who grew up in high-control religious groups.
www.abc.net.au
November 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
ABC did an excellent write-up of the hearing, including some of the interventions our director Anke Richter recommended to parliament, such as specific support services for cult leavers.
You can read the full article here: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
You can read the full article here: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
We’ll be sharing more highlights from Anke’s presentation over the coming days, including her key recommendations to Parliament. Stay tuned! 🔍📢
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
We’ll be sharing more highlights from Anke’s presentation over the coming days, including her key recommendations to Parliament. Stay tuned! 🔍📢
We're incredibly honoured that Decult has grown and matured to such a level that we could contribute to the hearings, and the team is so proud of Anke's representation. 💛
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
We're incredibly honoured that Decult has grown and matured to such a level that we could contribute to the hearings, and the team is so proud of Anke's representation. 💛
MPs asked clarifying questions around the situation in Aotearoa, the work Decult has done so far, and which impact we envision for our Decult 2026 Conference. 🌏✨
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
MPs asked clarifying questions around the situation in Aotearoa, the work Decult has done so far, and which impact we envision for our Decult 2026 Conference. 🌏✨
She emphasised that many cults aren’t religious at all, but commercial enterprises built on coercive control and systemic abuse, rather than belief systems.
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
She emphasised that many cults aren’t religious at all, but commercial enterprises built on coercive control and systemic abuse, rather than belief systems.
She shared the information of her years of research for the book CULT TRIP, and focused on the lasting harm caused by non-religious cults – especially their impact on young women and children.
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 AM
She shared the information of her years of research for the book CULT TRIP, and focused on the lasting harm caused by non-religious cults – especially their impact on young women and children.
10. Last but not least, provide sustainable funding for grassroots organisations already doing this work.
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
10. Last but not least, provide sustainable funding for grassroots organisations already doing this work.
7. Develop safe transitional housing – similar to women’s refuges or rehab centres – for people leaving cults.
8. Run public awareness campaigns to counter the stigma that cult survivors face.
9. Support trauma-informed, survivor-centred journalism and media projects.
8. Run public awareness campaigns to counter the stigma that cult survivors face.
9. Support trauma-informed, survivor-centred journalism and media projects.
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
7. Develop safe transitional housing – similar to women’s refuges or rehab centres – for people leaving cults.
8. Run public awareness campaigns to counter the stigma that cult survivors face.
9. Support trauma-informed, survivor-centred journalism and media projects.
8. Run public awareness campaigns to counter the stigma that cult survivors face.
9. Support trauma-informed, survivor-centred journalism and media projects.
4. Bring professional training in cult-recovery counselling to Australia.
5. Protect consumers in the self-help industry through advocacy and legislation.
6. Establish helplines and information centres to prevent recruitment and assist leavers. Germany, Austria and France already have them.
5. Protect consumers in the self-help industry through advocacy and legislation.
6. Establish helplines and information centres to prevent recruitment and assist leavers. Germany, Austria and France already have them.
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
4. Bring professional training in cult-recovery counselling to Australia.
5. Protect consumers in the self-help industry through advocacy and legislation.
6. Establish helplines and information centres to prevent recruitment and assist leavers. Germany, Austria and France already have them.
5. Protect consumers in the self-help industry through advocacy and legislation.
6. Establish helplines and information centres to prevent recruitment and assist leavers. Germany, Austria and France already have them.
1. Don’t conflate religion with cults. Many cults are not religious but commercial enterprises.
2. Recognise shunning and coercive control in groups as criminal offences.
3. Deregister charities that are cults – no more tax breaks for their front businesses.
2. Recognise shunning and coercive control in groups as criminal offences.
3. Deregister charities that are cults – no more tax breaks for their front businesses.
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
1. Don’t conflate religion with cults. Many cults are not religious but commercial enterprises.
2. Recognise shunning and coercive control in groups as criminal offences.
3. Deregister charities that are cults – no more tax breaks for their front businesses.
2. Recognise shunning and coercive control in groups as criminal offences.
3. Deregister charities that are cults – no more tax breaks for their front businesses.
“Decult has helped to create more professional development for social workers, health workers and psychologists. Decult is volunteer-run and relies on donations and grants.
To conclude, I endorse the Beyond Belief report by Stop Religious Coercion and urge the committee to consider the following:
To conclude, I endorse the Beyond Belief report by Stop Religious Coercion and urge the committee to consider the following:
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 AM
“Decult has helped to create more professional development for social workers, health workers and psychologists. Decult is volunteer-run and relies on donations and grants.
To conclude, I endorse the Beyond Belief report by Stop Religious Coercion and urge the committee to consider the following:
To conclude, I endorse the Beyond Belief report by Stop Religious Coercion and urge the committee to consider the following: