Universal Counselling
Currently universal income and universal healthcare are fashionable ideas. Universal means that everyone gets access, regardless of their wealth or income, and it suits a rich, fair country.
Australia, along with many western nations, is going through a mental health crisis, plus disillusioned youths and rising under-employment. Counselling can help people in these situations. Even when free counselling is available, it is under-utilised and not well-known.
We will provide and promote free counselling for all Australians. To the point that it becomes a normal part of our society, instead of something to be ashamed about. In the USA it is “normal” to see a therapist, but is unaffordable for most people.
In the digital era, people are spending less and less time having one-on-one interactions with people in the real world. Yet people have a real need to discuss with a knowledgable and caring stranger, things like:
- relationship issues
- drugs and alcohol
- boredom
- loneliness (especially the elderly and divorced)
- under-employment
- homelessness
- peer-pressure
We will launch a trial of free, walk-in chat centres. There are no rules, no criteria, and it will be like a Catholic confessional. You can just have a chat, or seek advice, or admit wrong-doings. All 100% confidential. Everyone gets 45 minutes per week, if they want. But it will not be the same person each week, and probably counsellors will change venue weekly. This is not about developing a relationship. It is for when you need a chat.
*note: these services already exist, for example The Talk Shop – they just aren’t well-known.