Sarah MacRae and her team at 24/7 Care Disability Services and Activity Hub have been named finalists in five categories of the AusMumpreneur Awards 2025.
They will compete for honours in the fields of People’s Choice – Making a Difference Business, People’s Choice – Making a Difference Award Local Community Business, Disabled Business Excellence, Author Award and Disability Services.
MacRae is the founder and director of 24/7 Care Disability Services and the Phoenix Activity Hub, a family-oriented organisation built from passion, purpose, and lived experience.
With more than 29 years of hands-on experience in the disability and mental health sector, her journey has always been deeply personal.
As a mother to a 10-year-old daughter with ASD and complex needs, she has lived the daily challenges that come with navigating broken systems, limited school inclusion, and the lack of understanding and support that so many families face.
Her daughter’s story – being excluded from mainstream schooling from kindergarten, placed in a support unit only this year, and needing funded support just to participate in community sport – has been one of heartbreak, advocacy, and relentless hope.
It was through her experiences and Sarah’s own that she was inspired to start this business.
“I didn’t just want to create another service; I wanted to build a community,” she said.
“A place where people feel seen, supported, and genuinely valued.
“A safe space for both participants and their families where individuality is celebrated, inclusion is real, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
“24/7 Care is not just my business; it’s my heart, my mission, and my way of fighting for change.
“We empower our participants, advocate fiercely for inclusion, and strive every day to fill the gaps that too many are falling through due to government limitations and systemic red tape.
“This is why I do what I do – because no child should ever feel like they don’t belong, and no parent should ever feel like they’re fighting alone.”
MacRae recently took silver in the global Women Changing the World Awards, which she said was deeply humbling.
“It was a recognition not just of business success, but of the heart, purpose, and lived experience behind my journey,” she said.
MacRae has co-authored three books – Purpose and Passion, Women Living Fearlessly, and Dreams and Determination, sharing her personal story of resilience, young motherhood, and building a purpose-led business from the ground up.
In just 12 months, the organisation has doubled its participant base, grown to over 45 team members, and launched innovative, inclusive programs like Friday Night Social Mixers and day-based skill-building programs.
Created by sisters Peace Mitchell and Katy Garner, the AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate the achievements of Australian mums in business across a wide range of categories, including business excellence, product innovation, customer service, sustainability, and technology.
“There are so many incredible women right across Australia balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and these awards are a chance to share their stories and celebrate their success,” Garner said.
The event will culminate in a glamorous awards gala at the AusMumpreneur Conference on August 11-12 in Geelong.
