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Safety on campus – presence of Shincheonji Church of Jesus

24 March 2025 · 2 min read
We want to alert you to a group called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. It’s important you know what to do if members approach you while you’re on campus.

We're responsible for making sure our campuses are safe places for everyone who studies, works and visits. 

We’ve been told that members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus (not registered or recognised as a religion by Australian authorities) have been approaching students at our Mt Helen Campus. It’s important to know what to do if this happens to you.

We respect your religious freedom 

Religious freedom is a key human right in Australia. You have the right to hold your religious beliefs without being actively influenced to join another religious group while on campus.
 
Concerns over Shincheonji Church of Jesus

Former members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus have described disingenuous, manipulative and harmful recruitment practices. This has been widely reported in the media too.

What to look out for
 
Recruiting members approach students in public areas of the university with a harmless-sounding request (like asking for directions, doing a survey or going for a coffee) then encourage them to participate in activities on or off-campus, sometimes referred to as bible study.
 
While this may seem friendly at first, their behaviours can become manipulative, drawing people away from family, friends and trusted networks.

What to do if you’re approached

If you see or suspect religious recruitment activity on campus, please contact our security team immediately (numbers below) so they can assess and address the situation. If you notice that a student looks uncomfortable in a conversation, you can check on them and give them a safe way to leave.
 
Federation Security can be reached on:

  • Ballarat campuses: extension 6333 or call 5327 6333
  • Berwick Campus: extension 28555 or call 5122 8555
  • Gippsland Campus: extension 26662 or call 5122 6662
  • Wimmera Campus: call 5382 0560 or 0417 820 560

Security can ask people to leave the campus if needed.
 
How to find approved student groups at Federation
 
We have a wide range of social, political and religious groups available to Federation students. There is a formal process to establish a group, which helps ensure student safety. Explore student groups via our website.