Carmel Crouch A purpose driven life

While most of her contemporaries are relaxing in coastal retirement, energetic 75-yearold businesswoman Carmel Crouch is driving innovation in the disability sector - often still working up to 70 hours a week.

Words Tricia Welsh

This self-confessed workaholic is the Managing Director of STEPS – an organisation she helped set up some 45 years ago to help young people with a disability. “I’ll probably die with my boots on,” she admits.

As a young mother of two able-bodied children, Carmel adopted a son with a disability, and quickly realised that the training and employment opportunities available would not be the same.

In 1989, along with a small, dedicated group of likeminded parents whose children also had a disability, she was instrumental in setting up STEPS with the express purpose of providing opportunities for such children to achieve self-actualisation and independence.

While running her own successful businesses, this astute businesswoman spearheaded the not-for-profit organisation as Chair and President of its board for 19 years -- the past 14 as Managing Director.

STEPS is now a national operation based in Caloundra with 26 locations across Australia employing more than 300 people nationally, 226 of those on the Sunshine Coast, with an enthusiastic team of 160 volunteers.

An inspirational community leader, Carmel was awarded an Australia Day Ambassadorship in 2019, won the 2021 Senior Citizen of the Year at the Sunshine Coast Australia Day Awards and was one of four nominees for the Queensland Senior Australian of the Year Awards.

One of her proudest achievements was the realisation in 2017 of STEPS Pathways College, a revolutionary model giving young adults with a disability the opportunity to gain unprecedented levels of independence through holistic life skills education. The first of its kind in Australia, the college attracts students from all over the country to take part in its boarding program, and day and online programs.

But, she says, the thing that gives her the greatest joy and pleasure is giving parents their own independence. “It’s not about the kids, because I know they are going to get independence. It’s about giving the parents the independence they were never likely to have – they never even dreamt they could get.

“The fact that I’ve been able to give so many other parents independence that I’ll never have is such a joy for me – it really is.

“That’s the bit that gives me goosebumps. The kids are always going to be great. Once they come in, I know they are going to go out with the most amount of independence they are going to have in their lives. It’s a beautiful program. I’m so proud of it and I’m so proud of the people who work in it.”

Passionate about eradicating every stereotype about people over the age of 50, Kae says it’s time to recognise the value this generation brings to the business community.