Sisley became one of Brisbane's first speech and drama instructors when she moved there in 1916, working at St Margaret's, Stuartholme and Somerville House.

In the early-1900s Sisley helped establish the Young Women's Christian Association Drama Group and the Brisbane Shakespeare Society, where they performed an annual play.

[3] She organised tours of their productions to places like Ipswich, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Rockhampton, and Townsville.

[1] She was a part of the Dramatic Society of the University of Queensland, founder of the Art of Speech Association, a member of the Shakespeare Society, the Dickens Fellowship, the Lyceum Club, Authors' and Artists' Association, C.E.M.A., and the advisory panel of the Australian Broadcasting Commission for Queensland.

[2] The Barbara Sisley Awards have been presented annually since 1947 by the Communication, Speech & Performance Teachers Inc. in her memory.