Clare was raised in Melbourne's south-east, studied Law at Monash University and later became mayor of Greater Dandenong at the age of 23.

She later studied Public Policy at Harvard and worked at the New York Stock Exchange. After serving as an adviser to the Commonwealth Treasurer and consulting with Australian CEOs, she entered Federal Parliament in 2013 representing the electorate of Hotham. 

Her political career progressed through various Shadow Ministry positions before becoming Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security with the incoming Albanese Labor Government in 2022, and Minister for Housing and Homelessness in 2024.

She lives with her husband and their three children.