[1] She was the sixth child of Elizabeth Mary Ann (née Cherbury) and Reverend Albert Rivett, a Congregational pastor and pacifist.

[3] Following her graduation in 1915, Rivett volunteered to serve in World War I but her offer was refused as women doctors were not accepted by the Australian government.

[7] She gave a talk at the Brisbane Lyceum Club on "Sex Hygiene" in 1922,[8] while in the 1930s she advocated strongly for birth control,[9] saying that it should be part of the upper school curriculum.

[1] She learnt to fly in 1929 and qualified in 1930[12] before being one of three women pilots who flew to Toowoomba to escort British aviator Amy Johnson to Brisbane following her London to Australia solo flight.

[14] The Telegraph selected a quotation of Rivett's for its column, "Notable Sayings" in 1934:[15] If we do nothing else than live in history as a generation of women who, having been denied preparatory education in sex, yet gave to the next generation opportunity for education in self-knowledge and sex hygiene, with full technique in contraception as her preparation for maternity, then I say we shall have reason for deep inner happiness.Rivett visited England, France and Germany in 1936 to develop her knowledge and skills in gynaecological surgery and study tropical medicine.