Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) is aiming to have 13,000 counsellors registered with the Board of Counsellors Malaysia by the close of this year. Its Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, disclosed that the current number of registered counsellors stands at 11,700.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nancy highlighted the high demand for counselling services due to various issues in the country. She noted that the need for these services has increased significantly post-COVID-19 and with the rise of social media exposure. Nancy shared these insights while speaking to reporters after inaugurating the World Counselling Conference (WCC) 2025.
The event also saw the presence of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Vice-Chancellor, Datuk Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadulla, and Board of Counsellors Malaysia President, Professor Dr Othman Mohamed. Nancy also revealed that the Talian Kasih 15999 helpline, managed by her ministry, receives an average of 500 calls daily, addressing issues from abuse to depression.
Discussing the ongoing three-day conference, Nancy emphasized its importance for local counsellors to exchange views with international counterparts on various counselling aspects. She remarked that the platform offers participants an opportunity to share knowledge with professionals globally, while focusing on ethics and technology, enabling them to remain informed on evolving societal needs and emerging issues.
The conference, organized jointly by KPWKM, the Board of Counsellors Malaysia, UPM, and Open University Malaysia, gathered counselling professionals, educators, researchers, and students to discuss critical issues, advancements, and the latest research in the field. It also provided a venue for academics, counsellors, and psychotherapists to expand their knowledge and strengthen both existing and new connections with experts from local and international communities.
A total of 401 participants attended the conference, both physically and virtually, with delegations from countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the United States, the Maldives, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and China.