The Church of Scientology of Canberra

About Nick Broadhurst

Executive Director of the Church of Scientology of Canberra

Nick is the Executive Director of the Church of Scientology of Canberra.

Nick arrived in Canberra in February 2008.

Pre-Scientology:

Nick was born in Melbourne in 1953. He schooled at Scotch College in Melbourne, where he developed a passion for exploring remote Australia. Before leaving school he had spent over 150 nights in the bush and mountains, from the Tasman Peninsula of Tasmania to Mount Wilhelm of the Owen Stanley Ranges in New Guinea.

Nick went on to study architecture at the University of Western Australia, where he graduated with his Bachelor Degree.

Furthering his professional career he became registered and practiced as a builder in several states. This was the time of building unions and management turmoil. Even bombs on building sites were not totally uncommon.

The above was a time of the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the continuous Middle east conflict, and all the while the world was becoming more toxic from pollution, and life forms becoming extinct. Nick wondered if there was not some better way. Why was the world in conflict? Why was man not tolerant of himself and other life?

Nick had studied some psychology while at university, but not found it sophisticated enough to hold real answers. He then looked at various religions, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and more. But again none truly answered his questions.

Nick Broadhurst in Scientology

Nick first came into Scientology in 1987 and had five hours of Dianetics auditing. He could not believe the difference it made, and was surprised, as it actually worked as well as its claims. He then did the course called, Overcoming The Ups and Downs in Life. This had exceptional data. Nick was building large buildings at the time and had been suffering ups and downs and had wondered what was at the root of it. This gave him practical answers, and since, life has been predominantly up. Nick followed that with more Scientology courses. Again he was surprised, as they worked.

Nick joined Church staff in Melbourne. He worked in the Department of Special Affairs, the public relations and legal office of the church.

In 1992 Nick went to Japan and headed its Department of Special Affairs. That department grew from nothing to over 40 staff, while the Tokyo Church itself grew to 212 staff. While there Nick had traveled to many Asian countries, and set up church public relations offices in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Korea.

Nick left Japan in 2002, returned to Australia and worked in the Office of Special Affairs. He became President of the Church in 2003. There, Nick took the What Is Scientology Exhibitions (opposite) to the major Scientology Churches in the Asia Pacific region. Finally in April 2006 Nick left the Office of Special Affairs and went abroad to the USA for further training.

Nick says his most notable achievement during his years in the Office of Special Affairs was helping as a volunteer after the Asian tsunami. Over a hundred and fifty thousand people were directly helped, using Scientology and Dianetics techniques.

Nick says that the most unforgettable experiences happen when you help others. Often, the major beneficiary of volunteer help, is the volunteer himself.

Nick says that when a true volunteer lives in similar conditions as the disaster victims then that the volunteer can approximate in himself the need of the victim and help him more. Nick's first disaster he attended was the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe, Japan in 1995. The relief efforts lasted three months.

Part of the relief program that Nick introduced was a program that could raise IQ. It had been noted that when people were disaster victims, victims of violence, and catastrophe, their IQ measured less. Using Scientology Nick developed a program to raise IQ.

Many officials have been appreciative of Nick's volunteer work and have given awards to the Church of Scientology for such. (Opposite - Nick with the Governor of Medan.)

In 2003 Nick was awarded Nepal's fourth highest national award by the King of Nepal during his birthday celebrations, being for Nick's Scientology work in Nepal and Asia.

By the time Nick finished as President of the Church of Scientology in the Asia Pacific region Nick had worked for the Church of Scientology in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Korea, Bangladesh, South Africa, the UK, Germany, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

In 2008 Nick was asked to head the local Church of Scientology in Canberra, something Nick had never done before. So Nick flew back to Australia and says he sees the Canberra church as an exciting challenge.

Nick has completed 86 Scientology courses -mainly administrative and management style courses.