Leaders are often driven by an innate passion to make a difference. Often, their motivations are the result of one, life-changing moment early in their life. For Clare Stewart, the moment came in August 2000, when she was the victim of a horrifying crash with a garbage truck in Sydney’s Bondi Beach. She was 23.
“It changed my life forever, in ways I never thought possible with repercussions that were unimaginable,” Stewart told Women’s Agenda recently. “I left home on the 18 August, 2000 for my usual 10km morning jog as a fully-abled 23-year-old. Minutes later, I was disabled and disfigured for life. I have since that time, lived my life as a disabled person.”
She spent the next six months recovering in hospital, undergoing dozens of operations. She was in rehab for years.
“Like so many other accident and trauma victims, the impact has affected every aspect of my life and my family’s life,” she said.
Stewart has lived and breathed the stress that trauma can place on a family unit. She understands what it is like to be in a wheelchair, to have people turn away, who won’t meet your eyes because they feel sorry for you.
“I get it, because I’ve been there,” she said. “It took me many many, months to learn to walk again, but I will always have a limp.”
This month, the 47-year old mother of three began her new role as CEO of Youngcare, a national organisation which provides support to young Australians living with complex physical disabilities. The group offers a range of services, including grants, specialist disability accommodation and resources to help people navigate the disability sector.
“Our purpose is to empower change in the disability sector and provide choice, independence and dignity to young people with complex physical disabilities living without the equality and inclusion we all deserve,” Stewart said.
Youngcare was co-founded in 2005 in Brisbane by David Conry, who was seeking the appropriate care for his wife. Around that time, Stewart met fellow co-founder Simon Lockyer, and became one of the organisation’s first employees.
In 2008, Stewart left the organisation to pursue her law career as a Barrister-at-law. In 2017, she was asked to join Youngcare’s board.
“It was and has been an absolute privilege to sit on the board since that time,” Stewart said.
In 2020, she was elected as the first female mayor of Noosa. Four years later, she stood down from that position to run for the LNP for the state seat of Noosa. After losing that election to the independent incumbent, an opportunity presented itself to work again with Youngcare as the CEO was planning to retire.
“I was thrilled to be considered and appointed,” Stewart said. “Youngcare is an incredible organisation and its strength lies in its board and its staff. Great people doing great things. It’s an honour to be a part of this mission doing so much for so many people in need.”
For a small team who currently receive no government funding, the organisation has brought extraordinary benefits to thousands of lives, building homes for dozens of residents across Queensland.
“Long before governments began discussing Specialist Disability Accommodation, Youngcare was already pioneering it,” Stewart remarked. “We’ve been leaders and disruptors (for good) in the disability sector, but I truly believe our journey has only just begun. We have achieved so much but there is still much to do.”
As she continues to look forward to the future, Stewart said she is determined to fight for the dignity of people with disabilities.
“I will never have the opportunity to be an active parent, to take a bike ride with my kids, to run with them in the park, I understand that the world isn’t made for people with disabilities.”
“That it is all harder for people like us. And it shouldn’t be. Youngcare fights for just that. It fights for every individual, no matter their ability or disability to have choice, to have dignity and to have freedom.”