Therapy and counselling for adults and adolescents
190 Cheapside Street, Maryborough QLD, Australia
Prefer to speak first? Call or text 0411 957 640.
About me
My Approach and Experience
What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)?
What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)?
I'm Shaun, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and the founder of Nautical Minds Fraser Coast. I hold a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying).
I have been working in mental health since 2019 and now support individuals and families across Maryborough and the Fraser Coast throug
I'm Shaun, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and the founder of Nautical Minds Fraser Coast. I hold a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying).
I have been working in mental health since 2019 and now support individuals and families across Maryborough and the Fraser Coast through my private practice.
My approach is person-centred and evidence-based, focused on understanding your whole story, including the experiences, relationships, and circumstances that have shaped where you are today.
I believe that stress, trauma, burnout, and other mental health challenges do not happen in isolation; they happen within the context of people's work, relationships, responsibilities, and life experiences.
While my practice is grounded in evidence-based therapy, it is also shaped by real-world experience. I understand that life does not always fit neatly into a textbook, and that many people spend years simply pushing through, carrying responsibilities, and doing their best to keep going.
My goal is to provide a safe, respectful, and down-to-earth space where you feel heard, understood, and supported as you navigate life's challenges with greater clarity and resilience.
What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)?
What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)?
What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)?
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) are social workers who have completed additional training and demonstrated extensive experience in mental health assessment and evidence‑based treatment.
Accreditation is awarded by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), which sets the professional standards for mental health
Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) are social workers who have completed additional training and demonstrated extensive experience in mental health assessment and evidence‑based treatment.
Accreditation is awarded by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), which sets the professional standards for mental health social work in Australia.
AMHSWs are recognised providers under Medicare, Private Health, NDIS, WorkCover and other national schemes. They work with people experiencing a broad range of mental health conditions — from anxiety and depression to trauma, stress‑related concerns, and more complex presentations.
If you’d like to learn more about the role of an AMHSW, you can read the AASW’s information here.
My Journey to Nautical Minds
What is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)?
My Journey to Nautical Minds
Before establishing Nautical Minds as my full-time private practice, I worked across a range of industries, including commercial professional fishing, local sawmills, the security sector, and the Australian Federal Government.
Those experiences shaped the person and clinician I am today.
I know what it is like to haul heavy nets in the dark
Before establishing Nautical Minds as my full-time private practice, I worked across a range of industries, including commercial professional fishing, local sawmills, the security sector, and the Australian Federal Government.
Those experiences shaped the person and clinician I am today.
I know what it is like to haul heavy nets in the dark, soaked through and freezing, where the only thing keeping you warm was a hot cup of coffee. I know the pressure of physically demanding work where you keep going because the job still needs to be done. I have experienced the responsibility of working in security, where staying alert, managing difficult situations, and supporting others were part of the role.
I have also experienced a very different type of workplace pressure through my time in government—wanting to provide the best support possible for customers and colleagues, while working within systems and processes that could sometimes create barriers to achieving the outcomes people needed.
Looking back, I am genuinely grateful for each of those chapters of my life. They taught me resilience, perspective, humility, and the importance of looking beyond what someone presents on the surface to understand the person underneath.
These experiences continue to shape how I approach therapy today. I understand that people are not defined by a diagnosis or a collection of symptoms; they are shaped by their experiences, environments, relationships, and the challenges they have navigated throughout life.