A Wellbeing well-wisher
Your interviewer is a sweet person with potential, but when she ends up her story on the Starlight Festival by saying she’s from Melbourne and it’s not the sort of thing you’d see on your average street corner, she’s quite wrong. I’d say there is a new age event in a local town hall twice a month.
They’re not as good as Raym’s event – as he is an expert at putting these shows on and gathering a diverse group of healers, etc – but they really are everywhere. This girl has decided that, because they are not in her experience, then they are not there – quite untrue.
She probably does not know of our magazine either, albeit we’ve been in publication for 22.5 years now.
Elizabeth Jewell Stephens Editor
LivingNow magazine
Editor’s note: In case readers missed it last the week, follow this link to view Nicole and Sharon Shostak’s coverage of the Expo.
Politics bad for mental health
The Gillard government has openly espoused that their last announced budget will hold great improvements for mental health care in Australia. This declaration is a deception.
The truth is that from 1 November 2011 the number of Medicare-rebated psychology sessions (Better Access initiative) that an individual can access has now been slashed from 18 sessions per calendar year to 10 sessions per calendar year. This leaves the most vulnerable people in Australia with very limited mental health care.
There is no doubt that increased suicide rates, risky behaviours and a rise in unemployment will be the product of such an irresponsible decision. This is a cost-cutting measure that is nothing short of callous and it constitutes a complete ruination of mental health services to the Australian people.
Andrea Haddock, Psychologist, Murwillumbah
