A Tasmanian woman who was attacked by a tiger shark last year while holidaying in Queensland has returned to work and described how much messages of support from her community have helped her recovery.

Key points: Shark attack victim Justine Barwick has thanked her local community for helping in her recovery

Shark attack victim Justine Barwick has thanked her local community for helping in her recovery She has returned to work for the first time since the attack in Queensland last September

She has returned to work for the first time since the attack in Queensland last September She has been back in the ocean but is not sure if she will dive again

Justine Barwick was swimming off a charter yacht in Cid Harbour in the Whitsundays last September when the attack occurred.

"I do struggle to find the words to describe the hit of the shark — it just slammed into me like nothing I've ever known and it just came from the blue but I immediately knew what it was," she said.

"There was absolutely no warning, I didn't see anything that would lead me to believe there was a shark danger. It's an area that I have literally swum in countless times.

"I think I was a positive person before, but the way I look at it is that I can't have dodged a bigger bullet than the one I have. I think I'm the luckiest girl in the world, I really do."

'I am walking … that's the greatest thing'

Ms Barwick is still recovering from extensive physical injuries, and has been learning to walk again, using a cane to get around as well as wearing a special device on her foot to help her.

She returned to her job at Family Based Care in Burnie last week, saying it had been "difficult" with relatively small tasks taking much longer than they used to.

Justine Barwick is continuing rehab for leg injures. ( Supplied: Family Based Care )

"You never think you'll be that person in rehab trying to wiggle their foot, but then one day I was that person," she said.

"It has been hard, but my work has been amazing in making my return to work possible even though I have significant obligations in terms of appointments and rehabilitation.

"The injury was significant to my leg, that has left me with some reconstruction work that needs to be done. It will have a long-term effect … but I am walking and that's the greatest thing.

"The mental health support has been first class, I really do think it is a mind game from here."

'The support has been staggering'

Ms Barwick said he community had rallied around her.

"The support from the north-west community has been staggering. It does remind you that we do have special connections here in the community," she said.

"And the community of Cid Harbour where the accident happened, and the crews of those boats who were there on that particular night they rallied around myself and my friends.

"We've had so many amazing messages from the Tasmanian community.

"It did make a really big difference not only in my recovery but the support of my family."

The view of Cid Harbour from onboard the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter. ( Supplied: RACQ CQ Rescue )

Ms Barwick said she had a "love of the ocean" and had been returned to the water twice since the attack.

"I went in once up to my knees and then up to my waist before thinking, 'that's enough for me'," she said.

"I don't want this one incident to affect an entire lifetime of enjoying the sea.

"I will get back into the ocean again but whether I go diving off the stern of a yacht again? That's the big question … maybe."

"Life is a beautiful thing and just being able to live it and enjoy the company of my family and beautiful friends … that's a good life."

There was 'blood everywhere'

Ms Barwick was one of three people attacked by sharks in the same area late last year. ( Twitter: DAF Media )

On the day of Ms Barwick's attack, an emergency doctor was on board a nearby boat and was able to administer life-saving first aid when she was pulled from the water.

Witnesses described seeing "blood everywhere" shortly after the attack which was the first of several attacks in less than two months in the same area.

A 12 year-old girl, Hannah Papps, was attacked by a shark in the harbour the next day.



Melbourne medical researcher Daniel Christidis, 33, died after being mauled by a shark when paddle boarding and swimming in the harbour.



Queensland's Fisheries Department deployed temporary drum lines in the harbour after the attacks, capturing several tiger sharks.