Are you, or is someone you know, in crisis? Please call or text 1737 for 24/7, free and confidential support from a trained counsellor (New Zealand only).

For general support, including guidance for situations of suspected abuse, you can contact the Olive Leaf Network for confidential care and referral to wider services.

Events

We endorse and provide various events to support former formers of high-demand religious groups, raise awareness about their experiences, and to equip those who support them.

Upcoming Events

Listed below are a variety of events throughout the year, that are either offered or endorsed by the Olive Leaf Network. Check them out, or sign up to our newsletter to receive event notifications.

Events for former members

What’s Your Story?

A six-week, online peer-support small group programme for former members of high-demand religious groups. Facilitated by the Olive Leaf Network founder Lindy Jacomb and by Poia Alpha, a trained counsellor and former member of the Branch Davidians, this program is offered twice a year in Feb-March and in July-August.

Contact support@nz.oliveleaf.network for more information or to join the waiting list for this cathartic and positive online support space.

Regain and RestoreOLN R&R WKND FLYER

A weekend recovery retreat for former members of high-demand religious groups is on offer for the first time in New Zealand. This weekend was scheduled for May 2024, but due to unforeseen circumstances this has been postponed until late 2024 – contact us or keep an eye on our social media platforms to be kept informed as to the new date.

These weekends have been run successfully for many years by Cult Information and Family Support in Australia, and we are really proud to be bringing them to Aotearoa – hopefully this will be the first of many.

Click on the flyer image for more information, or contact us at support@nz.oliveleaf.network with any further queries or to register your interest.

Events of general interest

ICSA Annual Conference

This conference is being offered in July 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.  Their website shares that this annual conference is “typically three days in length with pre-conference workshops for former group members, researchers, mental health professionals, and educators…. Attendees include: former group members, families, helping professionals, researchers, lawyers, educators, and other interested persons.”

See the ICSA website for more information and to register. 

Decult

Decult is Australasia’s first cult awareness conference, available in Christchurch, New Zealand on the 18-20th of October 2024. Their website shares, “Come spend a weekend with authors and educators, academics and counsellors, survivors and their advocates as they share their expertise and personal stories. Decult is for anyone interested in spirituality, faith or personal growth who wants to engage in respectful discussion to broaden their knowledge and cult-proof themselves.”  

See the Decult website and social media sites to register or for more updates. 

Healing for Cult Leavers – a MindHealth Day Seminar for Counsellors, Pastoral Care Workers and Friends – April 2024

The Olive Leaf Network is pleased to be collaborating with the Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust to offer a day seminar at MindHealth in Christchurch on Tuesday 9 April 2024. The day’s focus will be on providing education and training to better equip counsellors, pastoral care workers and friends who are supporting former members of high-demand religious groups. Zoom attendance is available. Content relevant to both faith-based and secular audiences – see the flyer for more information.

Cults, Christianity and Conversations – May 2024

The Christian-based, allegedly cult-like group Shincheonji is incredibly active in New Zealand and is targeting University students, church ministers and congregations, and the general public with clever recruiting strategies. Are you in the Wellington area and want to know more about Shincheonji? Come along and find out about its practices and approaches to targeting Christians.

Hosted by Dr Terry Pouono of Laidlaw College, in collaboration with the Olive Leaf Network at Wellington Central Baptist Church on 3 May at 7.00pm.
Free parking and supper provided. Register here – https://lnkd.in/g2nwrAEp

Mental Health Professionals & Therapists Workshop with Dr. Gillie Jenkinson – October 2024

The Olive Leaf Network is collaborating with Decult to bring the highly experienced cult-recovery psychotherapist and counsellor, Dr. Gillie Jenkinson, of Hope Valley Counselling in the United Kingdom, to New Zealand. Dr. Jenkinson regularly provides training in the area of post-cult recovery to upskill therapists and frontline professionals, and we are thrilled to facilitate this opportunity for therapists to receive training from her.

Please click here for more information on this event and to register, or email support@nz.oliveleaf.network with any queries.

 

Get In Touch

We’re here to help! Please send us a message using this form, or go to our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

Please be reassured that all communication with the Olive Leaf Network will be held in strict confidence. Your personal information will only be shared with others beyond our network with your permission, unless you or others are in danger, in which case we will inform relevant authorities.