SEAFARER WELFARE: Hugs, Hope, and the Humans at Sea

IT WAS a bitterly cold Friday afternoon in the city when I met with Sue.

I apologised for the non-WA-like weather, but Sue — who’s from Melbourne — laughed it off. “This is basically a heatwave,” she said.

Sue Dight is the Regional Director for the Mission to Seafarers (MtS) Australia, and I was genuinely excited to meet her. Earlier that day, I’d asked a friend, “Do you think it would be weird if I hugged her?” My friend, fully aware of my overly familiar ways, reassured me: “Nope. That won’t be weird at all.”

Sue has a mammoth task on her hands, overseeing more twenty-eight Mission to Seafarers centres across Australia and one Chaplain in Papua New Guinea. A few years ago, if you’d asked me what the Mission to Seafarers actually did, I’m ashamed to say I wouldn’t have known. But in recent years, I’ve felt a shift, a pull to speak up for the people who’ve, in many ways, lost their voice while working at sea.

The quote on the Mission’s website is a stark reminder of something I’m sure we all often forget: “Ships don’t bring us the life we enjoy. Seafarers do.” 

Across Australia (and globally), Mission to Seafarers centres provide a vital support network for seafarers. They offer practical help like free or low-cost Wi-Fi, phone cards, shuttle transport, and access to everyday essentials. More importantly, they offer something deeper — a safe, welcoming place to rest, recharge, and reconnect. Chaplains and trained staff provide emotional support and spiritual care, and in moments of crisis — whether it’s abandonment, unpaid wages, or onboard incidents — the Mission steps in to advocate for seafarers’ rights. At its heart, the Mission exists to offer comfort, connection, and dignity to those who keep global trade moving.

Sue and I spoke about the quiet reality that seafarers are too often forgotten — only thrust into the spotlight when something tragic happens, like the recent attacks in the Red Sea. These are the moments that make headlines. But what about the good, heartwarming stories?

For a Regional Director of a charity to be on [the Top 100 Women in Shipping] list, I think it speaks to the work we do at the Mission
Sue Dight

She shared one about two family members who hadn’t seen each other in years. The global pandemic had kept them apart. After all that time, the first moment they laid eyes on each other again was inside a Mission to Seafarers centre. I can only imagine there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Then Sue shared a story that stopped me in my tracks.

Police had contacted the Mission’s chaplains after finding a missing Filipino seafarer, disoriented and wandering Sydney Airport. He’d been lost for three days without his luggage, passport, or a clear sense of where he was. Doctors later discovered he had a brain tumour requiring urgent surgery. It’s the kind of news that would be overwhelming under any circumstances, let alone in a foreign country, far from family, with limited English and no support network.

That’s where the Mission stepped in. Reverend Tay, one of the chaplains at MtS, became Liberato’s anchor during this incredibly difficult time. He helped him replace lost belongings, accompanied him to medical appointments, visited him regularly in hospital, and, quite simply, made sure he wasn’t alone. When an MRI confirmed the tumour was malignant, Rev Tay and Liberato prayed together and gently talked through how he might share the news with his wife and children.

Throughout it all, Liberato showed extraordinary kindness and grace, even hospital and hotel staff were moved by his quiet strength and faith. When it was time to return home, Rev Tay didn’t just say goodbye at the airport. He flew with him to the Philippines, supporting him through immigration and helping organise his follow-up treatment. At the airport, Liberato was met with open arms and tearful embraces, his family welcoming not only him, but the Mission’s presence in their journey.

Earlier this year, Sue was recognised internationally for her unwavering dedication to the welfare of seafarers, making her debut at #76 on AllAboutShipping.co.uk’s 2024 list of the Top 100 Women in Shipping. She’s one of only three Australian women to appear on the prestigious list, and one of the few representatives from a charitable organisation.

“For a Regional Director of a charity to be on that list, I think it speaks to the work we do at the Mission and how well-recognised the Mission now is across the globe,” Sue said.

It’s a well-deserved honour that reflects not only Sue’s leadership but the impact of the Mission’s work across Australia, Papua New Guinea, and beyond. From hospital bedside vigils to port visits and moments of quiet advocacy, it’s clear that the Mission isn’t just supporting seafarers - it’s helping the world see them.

And for all those wondering if I did end up hugging Sue... the answer is yes.