Samson Rising is excited to share an important update.
In late July 2025, we submitted a 94-page submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups.
Our submission draws on themes and patterns identified across 58 detailed complaints that were submitted anonymously to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
These complaints were provided by former members of the Christian Fellowship Organisation (CFO).
The names and identifying details of all 58 survivors remain strictly confidential. These details have now also been redacted for privacy reasons.
Updated Survivor Participation Figures
As of November 2025:
58 survivors have provided statements or evidence to Samson Rising.
317 anonymous surveys have been received.
1765 people signed our petition.
These numbers reflect a consistent and documented pattern of lived experience, rather than isolated events.
In addition to lodging complaints with the ACNC, several survivors indicated they wished to lodge complaints via the Reportable Conduct Scheme and raise criminal allegations against several CFO leaders. These complaints have been made, and we understand investigations are now underway.
Confirmation from the Committee
This week, we received formal notification from the Legislative Assembly – Legal and Social Issues Committee that our submission has been:
- Accepted
- Designated a public submission, with privacy redactions.
- Scheduled for publication on 5 December 2025.
The Committee wrote:
“Your submission has been accepted by the Committee and will be treated as a public submission… The Committee notes that your submission raises important themes and experiences that are relevant to the Inquiry.” They went on to thank Samson Rising for the “important contribution to the inquiry” which “may be referred to by the Committee’s final report”.
What Our Submission Represents
Our submission details reported organisational practices of the Christian Fellowship Organisation (CFO). They reflect alleged patterns of coercive control, misuse of spiritual authority, lack of transparency, and long-term impacts on children, families, and adults.
Acceptance by the Committee of our submission does not represent a judicial determination of individual wrongdoing. However, the material may assist bodies tasked with making findings of this nature.
Instead, they are an evidence-based compilation of reported organisational conduct presented to Parliament to assist in understanding systemic risks, regulatory gaps, and the urgent need for law reform regarding:
- Coercive control
- Misuse or overreach of spiritual authority
- Organisational structures that limit transparency
- The impacts of high-control environments on children, adults and families.
- The barriers many people face when seeking help or reporting concerns.
These insights were shared by survivors not only for themselves, but for people who remain inside systems where they may feel unable to speak.
Their accounts form a case study in alleged multigenerational harm enabled by religious coercion and organisational impunity.
Our Submission offers four key categories of recommended reform for the Committee’s consideration.
Categories of Recommended Reform
- Reforms to increase awareness of Existing Laws at the congregation level.
- Reforms to address the power imbalance faced by victims wishing to make complaints.
- Adoption of Uniform Criminalised Coercive Control laws to include religious practitioners engaged in the coercive behaviour.
- The establishment of a publicly searchable, national complaints register identifying breaches by individuals of acceptable standards of conduct. (Registration of Religious Practitioners)
We urge Parliament to consider the recommended reforms contained in our submission that address systemic risks and prevent further harm.
Our Ongoing Commitment
Samson Rising will continue to:
- Support individuals who wish to file complaints.
- Assist regulators and agencies with investigations.
- Advocate for law reform focused on survivor safety and public interest.
- Share updates when the Inquiry publishes its final report
We thank every survivor who contributed, with extraordinary courage and clarity. Your experiences now sit on the public record, where they can inform meaningful change.
Our submission is covered by parliamentary privilege, which means we must wait for the Committee to publish our submission before we can provide you with a link where you can read it in its entirety.
We hope our work continues to support and empower all those affected by alleged cult abuse.
On behalf of the Team at Samson Rising.
Samson
Disclaimer:
This article reports on a submission formally accepted and published by the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Recruitment Methods and Impacts of Cults and Organised Fringe Groups.
All accounts referenced are drawn from:
Survivor statements, ACNC complaints Anonymous surveys
Material accepted into the Inquiry’s public record
These accounts reflect the experiences of those who provided them and should be treated as allegations unless and until established by a court or official inquiry.
No assertion of criminal guilt or wrongdoing is made against any individual. Publication of this article is made in the public interest, consistent with protections for reporting on parliamentary proceedings.
Anonymous – Samson
Lisa Hunt is a writer, survivor advocate, and former pastor with over three decades of leadership and community work. After leaving a high-control religious system, she dedicated her life to amplifying survivor voices and pursuing accountability for organisations that cause harm.
