Dianne graduated initially as a physiotherapist from the University of Adelaide and has combined a clinical and academic career. She completed a Master of Applied Science (Orthopaedics) at UniSA in 1992, and took a position as a lecturer in both the undergraduate and post-graduate musculoskeletal physiotherapy programs, while continuing to work part-time in her own private practice. Her clinical work sparked an interest, and then a passion, for the pain sciences and translation of them into clinical practice. This led to her undertaking an Honors degree in 2006 on the "Language of the Pain Experience". This foray into research fueled a desire to do more, and so she enrolled in a PhD while continuing to work as a clinician in the pain field. Her PhD was centred around the role that the group itself might play in group-based programs for chronic pain - a topic inspired by observations while conducting pain management programs in private practice.
A desire to promote evidence based managaement of chronic pain in the community has broadened Dianne's involvement in the Australian Physiotherapy Association where she has been actively involved in both state and national leadership roles. She has collaborated to advocate for the establishment of a National Pain Group which subsequently developed a specialisation pathway for pain physiotherapists through the Australian College of Physiotherapy. 
To further promote the translation of pain science into clinical practice, Dianne has been a keen member of Pain Revolution since its inception in 2017. Pain Revolution "is a movement charged with changing how people understand pain in rural and regional communities in Australia". Dianne is involved in the planning of future education events as part of the Pain Revolution Outreach tour. 
Dianne continues to work part-time as a Research Associate in the Body in Mind Research Group, IIMPACT in Health.