Jason “Doc” Barber

Inside the team

Curiosity with
purpose.

DOC General Manager — Hide & Seek Paraquest THE DOC

For more than a decade, Doc has been immersed in the paranormal. His journey has taken him from curiosity and experimentation to formal study, completing education in Parapsychology and Demonology, while gaining years of practical experience investigating some of Australia’s most fascinating and notorious locations.

As the General Manager of Hide & Seek Paraquest, Doc is heavily involved in helping run and develop the team, while continuing to participate in investigations whenever possible.

He has conducted more than 200 investigations at Aradale, one of Australia’s most notorious former psychiatric hospitals, giving him an extensive understanding of paranormal investigation, equipment, evidence and the importance of researching the history behind a location.

But Doc isn't all serious business. Behind the plague doctor mask is someone who loves having a laugh, travelling with the team and making every investigation an experience to remember.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Doc's paranormal journey began after watching some of the cornier paranormal television shows. He decided to buy his partner a six-hour investigation at Aradale as a gift.

What started as a gift quickly became something much bigger.

After John repeatedly hassled him into joining Hide & Seek Paraquest, Doc eventually became part of the team — and the rest is history.

THE FIRST EXPERIENCE

One of Doc's earliest memorable paranormal experiences involved hearing a massive bang coming from a wall, followed by seeing what appeared to be a shadow figure.

That experience helped fuel an already growing fascination with the unexplained.

Since then, there have been plenty more experiences — some explainable, some questionable, and some that still don't have an easy answer.

EQUIPMENT & INVESTIGATION

Doc enjoys all aspects of paranormal activity and investigation.

His favourite piece of equipment is the REM-POD, but he is also very conscious of the need to question evidence rather than automatically accepting everything as paranormal.

Orbs, reflections, environmental contamination and other potential explanations are things he approaches with scepticism.

For Doc, investigating the paranormal isn't simply about finding something strange.

It's about asking why it happened, what could have caused it, and whether there is enough evidence to support a paranormal explanation.

TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION

One of the things Doc is particularly passionate about is teaching others.

He enjoys educating investigators about paranormal equipment — what different pieces of equipment actually do, how they work, how to use them correctly and, just as importantly, their limitations.

His teaching isn't limited to equipment either.

If Doc has knowledge in an area, he wants to share it. That includes paranormal investigation techniques, history, evidence analysis, research methods, equipment, investigation practices and anything else that can help someone become a better investigator.

Doc believes knowledge should be passed on.

He wants to help develop the next generation of paranormal investigators — people who understand their equipment, research locations properly, question their experiences and remain open-minded without abandoning critical thinking.

The future of paranormal investigation depends on investigators who are willing to learn, question and explore.

FAVOURITE LOCATIONS

Two locations stand out for Doc:

Aradale — after more than 200 investigations there, the location has become a major part of his paranormal journey.

Bishops Palace — another location that has left a lasting impression.

Doc also has a particular fascination with historic locations where the history itself becomes part of the investigation.

Q STATION — SORRENTO

There is one location that holds a particularly special place for Doc: Q Station in Sorrento, Victoria.

Doc previously worked as a guide at Q Station, giving him the opportunity to spend considerable time exploring and learning about the location.

The connection goes even deeper.

Doc's family has had a holiday house in the Sorrento area for more than 50 years, meaning the region has been part of his family's life for generations.

For Doc, Q Station represents more than just another paranormal location. It combines history, family connections, personal experience and his love of exploring places where the past still feels very present.

HORROR, MURDER & THE HUMAN MIND

Doc's interests extend well beyond ghosts.

He has a huge fascination with serial killers, murder cases and criminal psychology — particularly trying to understand what makes the human mind capable of such extreme behaviour.

That fascination began at an early age, influenced in part by his grandmother, who collected Murder Case Books.

For Doc, the interest isn't about glorifying criminals.

It's about understanding the psychology, motivations and circumstances behind some of the darkest cases in history.

HORROR COLLECTION

Doc is also a lifelong horror movie fan and has built an extensive collection of horror films and horror-related memorabilia.

His favourite horror movie is The Conjuring 2, while Insidious is one of his favourite paranormal movies/TV franchises.

Horror has always been another way for Doc to explore fear, storytelling, mythology and the unknown.

BEYOND THE PARANORMAL

Doc's interests don't stop at paranormal investigation.

He has a strong interest in history, crime, psychology, horror, music and research, and he enjoys going down the rabbit hole when something catches his attention.

He is also currently in the process of writing his own book — a project he is extremely excited and passionate about.

For Doc, writing brings together many of the things he enjoys most: researching, learning, exploring ideas and sharing knowledge with others.

He's looking forward to eventually sharing the finished project with the world.

LIFE WITH HIDE & SEEK PARAQUEST

For Doc, one of the best parts of Hide & Seek Paraquest is the camaraderie.

Travelling, investigating, sharing experiences and spending time together has created something much bigger than simply a paranormal investigation team.

The team has become family.

One of his favourite team memories comes from the St Arnaud Convent, where the investigation itself became only part of the experience.

The people, the laughs and everything that happens around an investigation are just as important.

FAVOURITE CASE

If Doc had the opportunity to investigate anywhere in the world, England would be high on the list.

Two cases that particularly interest him are the Enfield Poltergeist and The Conjuring House.

Both represent the kind of cases that combine history, claims of paranormal activity and a huge amount of controversy — exactly the sort of material that keeps Doc interested.

IF DOC COULD HAVE ONE PARANORMAL ABILITY...

Invisibility.

And his reasoning?

“Imagine what I could get up to.”

That probably says enough.

FAMILY

Away from investigations, Doc is a father and family is an important part of his life.

He is also preparing to welcome another addition to the family, with a fifth child expected in January 2027.

WHY DOC INVESTIGATES

For Doc, paranormal investigation is about the experience, the knowledge, the equipment and the variety.

No two investigations are exactly the same.

“Every investigation is different, and the range of equipment we offer and the knowledge of the team makes every investigation unique.”

That philosophy is at the heart of how Doc approaches paranormal investigation.

He isn't interested in simply telling people what they experienced.

He's interested in giving them the opportunity to experience it for themselves, learn about the equipment, understand the history and make up their own minds.

WELCOME TO THE UNKNOWN

Whether he's investigating a supposedly haunted building, teaching a new investigator how to use a piece of equipment, researching a murder case, writing his next chapter or simply having a laugh with the team, Doc remains fascinated by one thing:

The unknown.

And he's not finished exploring it yet.

“Welcome to Hide & Seek Paraquest. Welcome to the unknown.”