Al Gabb - Farmer, Dad, Counsellor
A Counsellor for rural and remote Australians
I’m based in Mansfield, Victoria, and run Rural Counselling Australia, from here. I see clients locally and across Australia through phone and telehealth sessions, because no one should have to travel half a day just to talk. Born and raised on a generational family farm. I’ve spent time managing the farm, in the transport industry, Agriculture contracting, volunteering in the CFA and at Lifeline as a crisis supporter. I know firsthand what it’s like when the pressure builds and I know how hard it can be to ask for help. Especially in rural Australia where help is hard to access and you’re flat out just trying to keep up.
With a Diploma of Counselling and a Diploma of Agribusiness, I bring both sides of the fence together, professional know-how and the kind of understanding that only comes from years working on farms. I’ve also taken that experience to the public stage, speaking at the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and addressing Parliament about the realities of getting help in the bush.
It’s this mix, training, advocacy, and lived rural life, that shapes how I work. My sessions are plain-spoken, confidential, and practical, focused on real-world tools that actually help you get through the day.
Training & Qualifications
Al’s accreditations include:
Diploma of Counselling (Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors).
Diploma of Agribusiness (Marcus Oldham College).
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training).
Mental Health First Aid Training.
Trained in cultural awareness of Indigenous Australians.
Crisis Supporter at Lifeline.