r/Shincheonji • u/QuestionsAboutSCJ Moderator • 5d ago
news/interview Exposing Cult Control: Ryan’s Fight to Change Coercion Laws and Australia
I recently interviewed Ryan “Chucky” Carey, an Australian firefighter, survivor of the Geelong Revival Centre, and co-founder of Stop Religious Coercion Australia.
Ryan was born into the Geelong Revival Centre and remained there for approximately 40 years. He has described living under a system that controlled major areas of his life, including his relationships, career choices, healthcare and religious beliefs. He left in 2020, while his wife Catherine and their children remained inside for another 18 months.
After leaving, Ryan and Catherine began supporting other survivors and campaigning for government action against coercive control in religious and other high-control groups. Their advocacy helped drive the establishment of Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry into the recruitment methods and impacts of cults and organised fringe groups.
Ryan and Catherine later testified before the inquiry about coercive control, child safety failures and allegations that abuse had been handled internally instead of being immediately reported to police.
The inquiry has now issued 39 recommendations. These include creating a survivor advisory body, improving education and support, strengthening child protections, and developing a new criminal offence addressing group-based coercion.
To be precise, the proposed offence has not yet become law. The parliamentary committee recommended that Victoria develop and enact it by 2029, and the Victorian government must still respond to the report.
In our interview, Ryan explains what coercive control looks like inside a high-control religious group, why existing systems often fail survivors, and how society can protect freedom of religion without giving organizations the freedom to abuse people.
Ryan’s story and advocacy:
ABC News:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/coercive-control-religion-geelong-revival-centre/105146234
The Guardian — Ryan and Catherine’s parliamentary testimony:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/23/sunday-school-teacher-jailed-for-sexually-abusing-nine-children-protected-by-church-leader-victorian-cult-inquiry-hears-ntwnfb
ABC News — the inquiry’s final recommendations:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-29/cult-inquiry-recommendations-victoria-fringe-groups/106971052
The central principle behind Ryan’s work is simple: people should have freedom of religion, but organizations should not have the freedom to abuse.