'There's a lot who prey on the vulnerable': Jackie Gillies hits back after being criticised on The Project about charging people to do psychic readings By Emma Shepherd For Daily Mail Australia Published: 16:03 BST, 3 April 2019 | Updated: 20:44 BST, 3 April 2019 5 Viewcomments Celebrity psychic Jackie Gillies defended her profession on Wednesday, after being challenged about the ethics of fortune telling by The Project's Hamish MacDonald. Jackie, 38, who previously starred on The Real Housewives of Melbourne, said she has 'helped tens of thousands of people' during her 15 years as a medium. The tense on-air exchange began when Hamish suggested that psychics who charge for readings are potentially 'preying on vulnerable people'. Clash: Celebrity psychic Jackie Gillies (far left) defended her profession on Wednesday, after being challenged about the ethics of fortune telling by The Project 's Hamish MacDonald Jackie replied: 'Well, for me, I've been doing it for 15 years...' Hamish then asked, 'Do you take money for it?' to which Jackie replied: 'Absolutely! Just like you get paid for this job [which is] quite a lot!' The wife Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies added: 'I know when I give a psychic medium reading, how many people I have helped and inspired over the years and after 15 years I've got tens of thousands of testimonials that say that.' Critical: The tense on-air exchange began when Hamish suggested that psychics who charge for readings are potentially 'preying on vulnerable people' Jackie explained that it's important for people to 'keep an open mind and an open heart' when it comes to psychic readings. Addressing the ethics of being a professional medium, Jackie said that she 'isn't pushing anyone to come' to her and charges for her services because she 'knows [her] self-worth'. Jackie had appeared on The Project to promote her new book, Shine It Up, which tells the story of how she supposedly discovered her psychic 'gift'. Defensive: Jackie replied to Hamish's criticism by explaining that she's been in the business for '15 years...' Jackie, who was born in Croatia and raised in Newcastle, was previously in the corporate world before deciding to follow a more spiritual path. In 2010, she married Ben Gillies, the drummer of alternative rock band Silverchair. The Project airs weekdays at 6:30pm on Channel 10 True love: In 2010, Jackie married the love of her life, Ben Gillies, drummer of the band Silverchair (pictured) Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility