Claire Fraser

Claire Fraser believes that creative arts are an underutilised resource that has the power to transform the wellbeing and mental health of people with congenital deafblindness and other complex disabilities. Claire has supported people with disability for twelve years, including as a support worker, educator and therapist. She currently works at Able Australia (a disability organisation offering specific services for the deafblind population) as an Art Therapist and a Deafblind Consultant. Claire witnesses daily the extensive disconnection and isolation experienced by people with congenital deafblindness and other complex disabilities, compounded by limitations in the ability of carers and family to meet and understand their needs, within a world in which this population is largely invisible. 

Claire is passionate about creating environments and relationships where people feel seen, heard, and understood. Claire uses relative arts modalities such as movement, tactile arts, and sound in combination with relationship building to support deafblind people to express, explore and connect with others, the world around them, and themselves. Claire is committed to using creative arts to address the desperate need for connection and engagement in deafblind people, as well as upskilling and empowering their families and carers.

In 2022 Claire presented at the National Deafblind Conference in Perth on “Creativity and connection as discovering learning and informing supports for people born deafblind. Claire holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from Latrobe University, a Bachelor’s in Applied Science (Disability) and Education (Primary), and a Diploma of Auslan and Deaf studies. Claire is a professionally registered Art Therapist, and in 2022 was recognised with the International Deafblind Youth Leadership Award. She is currently completing training in Video Interaction Guidance to support and strengthen relationships between disability support workers and the people they support. "