In 1978 O'Connor was appointed by the Australian government as its representative at the UNESCO conference on the teaching of human rights.
[7] In 2008, O'Connor conducted an inquiry into the appointment, management and termination of Dr. Graeme Stephen Reeves.
[9] O'Connor was appointed President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission in 1994, a position she held until 1997.
[15] In the Supported Wage System case the commission established a model award clause intended to assist people with disabilities to obtain employment.
[16] The commission also determined the proper approach to the legislative protection on the right to strike in the ABC case.