About
Who Is Barbara Brewster?
Acclaimed inspirational author, speaker, adventurer, awareness addict, Patch Adams Clown, MS survivor, “wounded healer,” and Joy Machine entertainer, Barbara Brewster passionately enthuses people to drop the inner ‘No’ and say YES! to expressing their true selves—“Know & Be Thyself.”
Through deeply honest books, coaching, speaking, silly singing, and Joyshops like Power of Play, Rambunctious Writing, Living Fully, and Strategies to Strengthen the Spirit, she equips all ages with awareness, tools, skills, and enthusiasm to embrace life’s offers and live authentically.
Her passion: Sowing seeds of awareness, possibilities, blossoming, inspiration, and venturing beyond the known.
Her Life Journey
This spirited 80 year-old’s books, poems, and songs reflect adventures in challenge, change, and comedy. Growing up in California, she studied gymnastics in a Danish folk high school, majored in Russian, hitchhiked across continents, hostessed a restaurant in Afghanistan, and immigrated solo to Australia at 22. Her book Down Under All Over captures her love affair with the land and people, contrasting 1960s and 1990s Australia, praised by icons like John Williamson and Eric Bogle.
In 1984, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 38, Barbara committed to self-questioning, breaking habits, and spiritual growth, chronicling her recovery in Journey to Wholeness, acclaimed by Deepak Chopra as “probably the most honest book ever written.” She transcended illness by addressing misbeliefs and limitations, affirming choice in any circumstance.
As an adult in the US, she owned a business, navigated two marriages, and published books. Post-50, she dove into theatre, musicals, movie extras, commercials; toured Russia as a Patch Adams clown; volunteered with animals and HIV children in Africa; re-immigrated to Australia; and developed mentoring for teens. Her latest book, Love or Growth: Why Not Both?, explores honoring growth within relationships.
Seeking silliness, she joined comedy classes, birthing spontaneity workshops that transformed her writing and life, emphasizing “The Power of Now” through play.
Now, as ‘arjay’ (wise elder woman) to a Brisbane-based Afghani refugee family, Barbara continues mentoring, advocating, and laughing a lot!
Fruits of Her Sown Seeds
Barbara’s initiatives inspire lasting community impact.
Buddies for Refugees
Inspired by Barbara in 2002 amid the Tampa crisis, this independent Sunshine Coast group advocates for just, compassionate treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, aligning with human rights standards.
Activities include regular meetings, monthly e-bulletins, donations, and sponsoring family settlements via the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (CRISP).
It supports policies of respect and fairness, enhancing Australia’s societal and international standing.
Coastal Caring Clowns
Birthed by Barbara’s 2000 “Clowning for Cowards” workshop on the Sunshine Coast, where 30 participants, excited after hospital visits, formed the group.
Following Patch Adams’ philosophy that laughter is the best medicine, these volunteers visit hospitals, aged care, nursing homes, and respite centers since 2001, promoting clowning to bring caring, happiness, and inspiration.
The only Queensland organization training hospital clowns, emphasizing ethics and presence over performance; visits are free, all members Blue Card-certified, still active in 2025.
Melbourne Clown Group
Sparked by Barbara’s clowning workshops in Melbourne, this group fosters caring clowning, attuned to needs of hospital staff, patients, elderly, and children.
Objective: Promote clown arts for joy and inspiration through community visits, embodying presence and saying YES to the moment’s offers.
Contact Barbara
Contact Barbara here with questions regarding books or engaging Barbara for events.