Audrey Kinnear was quite young when she was placed in the Koonibba Children's Home, South Australia. After leaving the home, she attended college in Adelaide and qualified as a nurse. Kinnear worked at Warinilla Private Hospital, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and the Fullarton Old Folks' Home. While working at the Fullarton Old Folks' Home, she was asked to enter the Miss Australia Quest, but found it too expensive to buy outfits for the parades.
Kinnear later married, had children, and began work at the Public Health Department in Aboriginal Health. At this time, she had also begun to trace her family connections and, after several attempts, finally met up with her mother. Kinnear's mother later went missing from Port Pirie, and was never found. Kinnear suffered many family traumas throughout her life, but has continued working in the alcohol and drug rehabilitation programme in Port Augusta, South Australia.
