HELEN Reddy, one of Australia’s most famous singing exports of the 1970s, is launching a new career: running a psychological counselling service on Norfolk Island.

Her hits include I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Delta Dawn and the anthem I am Woman.

The island paradise is used to famous residents, with author Colleen McCullough having lived there for 20 years. She is married to one of Reddy’s cousins, Ric Robinson.

Paradise or not, Reddy’s services as a counsellor will be appreciated, according to some Norfolk locals.

“There are a lot of very unhappy people on the island, with marriage break-ups and alcoholism,” one woman resident said. “Personal relationships can be very difficult. You can’t just get in the car and drive — you’re stuck on an island. This is a like small country town and everyone knows everyone’s business. You can’t escape. A counselling service could benefit the island.”

She said the death of a woman whose car had run over a cliff last week, and the trauma for locals who had to retrieve the body, was an example of where Reddy’s services could be useful.

The 58-year-old singer, who continues to perform, has sold her home in Santa Monica, California, to prepare for a full-time move to Norfolk. She has been spending about half the year on the island.

In her heyday, Reddy was a chart-topping performer and became an icon of the women’s movement with I am Woman, Hear me Roar.

She is studying hypnotherapy as part of a course to prepare for her new occupation.

“What does the island need?” she asked. “There are no psychological counselling services there.

“I will be qualified at the end of all this to deal with most of the problems people have — ranging from nail-biting to insomnia to all of the little things.”