Rachael Dixon, a fitness and healthy living enthusiast from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, tragically did not return home after attending a retreat in April of last year. During a healing ceremony, she consumed two servings of mushroom tea and, unfortunately, died mere hours later.
The retreat was organised by spiritual healer Deanne Matthews, who has since faced serious consequences related to the incident. While initial police investigations cleared Matthews of any direct responsibility for Dixon’s death, she later pleaded guilty to a charge of trafficking psilocybin, resulting in a $3,000 fine.
In response to the situation and ongoing concerns, the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner has issued an interim prohibition order against Matthews. This directive prohibits her from conducting healing sessions or offering retreats until further notice, remaining in effect until 27 October 2025 while a thorough investigation takes place.
The community has been left in shock by this unfortunate incident, emphasising the potential risks associated with unregulated retreats and the use of hallucinogenic substances. Dixon’s death has raised critical questions about the safety measures in place at such events, prompting regulatory scrutiny and a call for better oversight of spiritual healing practices.