An Eco-System of support for Industry – By Industry
The Stay Afloat program is led by our National Program Manager and State Co-ordinators. Stay Afloat does not provide a 24/7 crisis line, but our Co-ordinators will endeavour to return your calls within 24 hours. If you are experiencing a crisis, please use any of the numbers at the bottom of the page.
South Australia
Community Support Officer
Skye Barrett
0435 688 660
With deep personal roots in the industry as the daughter of a commercial fisher, Skye brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her role. Her career and upbringing have taken her through key fishing regions, including Port Lincoln, Tasmania and Gippsland, giving her a nuanced understanding of the pressures and challenges faced by seafood workers.
Before stepping into the South Australian Coordinator role with Stay Afloat, she managed national research portfolios at the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and served as a Fisheries Manager in South Australia. During this time, she became a Mental Health First Aider and strongly advocated for mental health awareness within fisheries networks.
Skye has been part of the Stay Afloat national team for two years and now continues her work with the Stay Afloat South Australia team. Her approach is grounded in strong stakeholder engagement, governance and strategic planning, underpinned by a lifelong passion for Australia’s seafood sector. In this role, she remains committed to supporting a healthier, more resilient industry—one where mental wellbeing is valued as highly as physical safety
South Australia
Community Support Officer
Kylie Fergusen
0423 603 213
Kylie has worked alongside communities around the globe for over 25 years, sometimes as a counsellor or community development practitioner and other times as a trainer, policy writer or researcher. From communities in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami through to Queensland and WA communities impacted by mines, gas and electricity projects. From farmers impacted by water allocations plans, rural zoning changes or bushfires through to rec fishers accessing urban reservoirs and those experiencing grief, anxiety or depression.
Kylie says, “I have been so privileged to have had such diverse roles, but the common thread has always been my strong belief that everyone deserves the right to have a voice about things impacting on their health and wellbeing. There is so much really confronting change going on in the seafood industry at the moment, and I am all about nurturing that safety zone where people feel they can download the tough stuff going on in their minds and hearts, know they are being genuinely heard and feel better equipped to handle the tough days”.
More recently, Kylie has been lecturing in counselling and mental health, and was the CEO for the industry body supporting SA’s 121 community centres. Currently, she also runs her own part-time Equine Assisted Therapy and Counselling practice in the beautiful Adelaide Hills.
Being brought up on a farm, her experience has been more about mud and cow manure, but her love of the coast is strong – she grew up around a family of rec fishers and abalone divers, spending a lot of time around SA’s Coorong and Yorke Peninsula. These days, with her family keen surfers, most weekends are spent with them on the part of the SA Coast where the sets are rolling in.
Gladstone QLD
Community Support Officer
Olivia Walford
0405 401 973
Liv’s journey started in New Zealand and took her across the oceans as a dive instructor, working on superyachts and fishing charter vessels. Over the years, she developed a strong connection to Australia’s seafood industry and the incredible people behind it. Holding a Diploma in Seafood Industries and certification as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Liv combines her industry knowledge with her passion for wellbeing. She is committed to supporting fishing communities and promoting mental health awareness within the industry.
South-East, QLD
Community Support Officer
Gary Hawkes
0499 704 267
Gary spent 15 years working throughout SE Asia as a remote dive medic, hyperbaric tech, and a volunteer for the Foreign Commonwealth Office, as well as owning several diving-based businesses. Most of his life has been spent on or around the ocean.
Having become an Australian citizen, he worked with disadvantaged youth up in far north Queensland, training them to work within both the sea harvesting and marine tourism industries for just over 7 years. It was work he enjoyed this work immensely and got access to amazing communities as a result. Gary has worked with Queensland Ambulance as a trainer and assessor, conducted remote and wilderness training, first worked with StayAfloat as a Mental Health First Aid instructor and a volunteer Trusted Advocate.
In Gary’s words – “Having had a passion for helping people in some format most of my life, StayAfloat has been a great fit, combining all elements in one place: Ocean, mental health, resilience, training, and community, all at some of the world’s most amazing locations. I hope that my experience with the backing of StayAfloat can help others.’
Sunshine Coast, QLD
Community Support Officer
Kelly Paton
sunshinecoast@stayafloat.com.au
0409 912 147
Kelly has over 21 years of experience working in the mental health space, she is deeply passionate about supporting individuals through life’s challenges no matter what form that support may take. Whether it’s face-to-face conversations, being a trusted soundboard, or providing alternative pathways to support, Kelly believes everyone deserves access to compassion, understanding, and the right tools to support their mental health and wellbeing.
For the past two years, she has had the privilege of working closely with the fishing and seafood community and understands the unique struggles and challenges that come with working in the industry, and that insight gives her the knowledge to offer support in a way that truly connects and makes a difference
Based in Queensland on the sunshine coast she is proud to be a community support office in a program that reflects these values & continues to create safe, supportive spaces for those who need it most.
Cairns, QLD
Community Support Officer
Tobi Schnell
0418 187 269
Originally from Germany, Tobi worked several years in Thailand’s busy diving industry before moving to Cairns in 2003. Here, he spent almost 2 decades in the as a training and operations manager before launching themindsetacademy.com.au in 2022, delivering mental health first aid programs to corporate clients as well as the general public. Tobi joined Stay Afloat in late 2023 and is currently looking after our fishing communities from Townsville to the Torres Strait and out west to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Please be aware, your State and Territory Coordinators are there to provide a listening ear and to help guide you to professional support services, they are not crisis counsellors.