[5][6] Clay-Smith grew up in Newcastle and attended the Hunter School of the Performing Arts in Broadmeadow.
She has forged a partnership between BSF and AFTRS, facilitating Bus Stop's students with intellectual disabilities access to the film, television and radio industries.
In January 2018, she finished her first international project in Japan, titled 'Shakespeare in Tokyo', which combined a workshop and professional work experience for six Japanese people with Down syndrome.
In March 2018, Clay-Smith was invited to deliver the closing keynote speech[13] at the Toronto International Film Festival – Kids section, where she presented on BSF and the power of inclusive filmmaking.
Clay-Smith released her children's book I Didn't Like Hubert in 2018, with all proceeds being donated to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.