Sabra Lane: This next story might be uncomfortable listening. It discusses child sex abuse, and it's an important one to illustrate this is happening in Australia. Former members of a fundamentalist Christian sect are hoping an FBI investigation into the group will finally deliver justice for victims of child sexual abuse. The ABC can reveal more than 100 Australian victims have contacted a hotline for survivors. Reporter Tobi Loftus has the story.
Tobi Loftus: Lisa Smith was just 10 years old when her life growing up in Brisbane was turned upside down.
Lisa Smith: That was the start of the sexual abuse.
Tobi Loftus: Lisa's not her real name. We've changed her name for legal reasons.
Lisa Smith: I was the only one in my bedroom. And dad said to me I need to check if you've developed. If you're developing properly, was his words.
Tobi Loftus: Her dad was a local leader in a global fundamentalist Christian sect, which does not have an official name, but is known as the Truth, the Way, or the Two by Twos.
Lisa Smith: I'll probably call it a cult. No radio, no TV, no worldly music, not allowed to cut your hair.
Tobi Loftus: The abuse against her continued for years, all while her dad remained in the sect. He was only made to leave after he pleaded guilty to seven charges of indecent treatment of a child under 14 in a Queensland court in 2020. He was sentenced to three years in prison, which was suspended after four months. Lisa's not alone in her experience.
Jillian Hishon: Brave Truth Australia, this is Gillian speaking.
Tobi Loftus: Jillian Hishon runs a hotline from her Brisbane home, connecting former sect members who have experienced sexual abuse within the sect in Australia and New Zealand to support services.
Jillian Hishon: So I would have probably over 100 that have made contact with me.
Tobi Loftus: The sect was established in Ireland in the late 1800s and quickly spread around the world. It's estimated there are about 100,000 believers worldwide and roughly 8,000 in Australia. Believers of the church meet in people's homes for prayer sessions, with the group's ministers moving between the different cities where followers are based. The sect has chapters in cities and towns in every Australian state, as well as the ACT. Charlie Blundell grew up in the sect.
Charlie Blundell: The sexual abuse was when I was a toddler. I was very, very young. For me, it sounds callous to say, but it was the minor part of the abuse. The physical and emotional abuse have had far more detrimental effects. Those memories never go away.
Tobi Loftus: Charlie is one of a number of Australian survivors to make a submission to an FBI inquiry into the sect in the United States. The FBI says it's seeking the public's help in identifying victims or individuals with knowledge of abuse in the sect. In a written statement to the ABC, the sect's Australian leaders say,
Statement: We are aware of some historic cases where individuals who were respected within the fellowship abused people's trust. We are truly sorry. We have learned from these experiences and are constantly reviewing our current practices to keep children safe.
Tobi Loftus: But that's not enough for Jillian Hishon from The Brave Truth. She'd like to see a similar investigation as the FBI's in Australia.
Jillian Hishon: We're sitting at about 130 perpetrators that have been reported to me. I know there's a lot more than just what's been reported to me.
Sabra Lane: The Brave Truth's Jillian Hishon ending that report from Tobi Loftus. And if you have experienced childhood trauma or abuse, you can call the Blue Knot Helpline on 1300 657 380.