Podcast Episode Details

Episode 76: Clare Gibellini

Episode 76

Welcome to episode #76! We’re thrilled to be joined by Clare Gibellini today.

Clare Gibellini is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion in Australia and internationally. She is the co-chair of the Oversight Council for the First National Autism Strategy and the deputy chair of WA’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability. Clare also works as a policy officer for Women with Disabilities Australia and has been newly appointed as the chair for the National Disability Research Partnership.

With a background in advocacy, research, and policy reform, Clare is committed to creating a more inclusive world. In this episode, she shares her journey of discovering her neurodivergence, the challenges of navigating multiple roles, and her strategies for balancing advocacy, productivity, and self-care.

Welcome to the show, Clare!

Questions

JN: What was your journey to discovering your neurodivergence?

• Grew up as a military kid, constantly moving, which made it difficult to understand differences
• Realized similarities with her son after his autism diagnosis
• Received her own autism diagnosis from the same clinician who diagnosed her son
• Diagnosis helped her understand herself, parent differently, and practice self-compassion

JN: How did the diagnosis change your self-perception?

• Stopped internalizing negative self-talk
• Developed strategies to manage social situations and advocate for herself
• Shifted perspective from “something’s wrong with me” to “society isn’t built inclusively”

JN: What are your current work roles?

• Policy officer at Women with Disabilities Australia
• Co-chair of the National Autism Strategy
• Chair of the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP)
• Advocates for more disability-led research and inclusive policy development

JC: How do you manage multiple high-responsibility roles?

• ADHD helps her balance tasks by switching between projects
• Strong support network keeps her accountable and reminds her to take breaks
• Finds fulfillment in advocacy work, which fuels her motivation

JC: How do you prevent burnout in advocacy and policy work?

• Limits social media engagement to avoid negativity and toxicity
• Has hobbies unrelated to disability work, including volunteering for emergency services
• Engages in creative activities like crocheting, gardening, and baking
• Works out regularly to manage chronic pain and mental well-being

JN: What does your work in disability research aim to achieve?

• Advocates for disability-led, purpose-driven research to inform better policies
• Aims to include lived experience in research rather than extractive studies
• Pushes for research that improves real-life outcomes rather than abstract academia

JC: How do you optimize productivity during the day?

• Works from home to manage sensory needs
• Uses a yoga ball chair for movement while working
• Schedules movement breaks and weight training to stay regulated
• Uses live transcription instead of note-taking to stay fully engaged in meetings

JC: What productivity advice doesn’t work for you?

• Finds back-to-back meetings overwhelming and non-productive
• Rejects corporate jargon and vague email requests—prefers direct communication
• Pushes back against the expectation to have cameras on in every virtual meeting

JN: What does your morning routine look like?

• Not a morning person, keeps routine simple
• Prepares everything the night before to reduc

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  Published on 10 months, 1 week ago