After completing his general nursing certificate at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, he worked primarily in adult and paediatric intensive care. Stuart's academic interests initially followed his clinical interests and he completed a hospital-based intensive care nursing certificate at the then Prince of Wales/Prince Henry Hospitals Group in Sydney. He later undertook a Diploma in Teaching (Nursing) and a Bachelor of Education (Nursing) at Armidale College of Advanced Education (now the University of New England) and a Master of Health Administration at the University of New South Wales.