Bates was born in Sydney and spent her early years in Appin, New South Wales, attending Campbelltown Performing Arts High School.

Bates has undertaken commissioned writing for a large number of organisations and has worked on the editorial team of the New South Wales Department of Education School Magazine.

Bates has founded several sub-branches of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) of NSW.

She has presented community radio and television programs about children's literature and reviewed books in numerous magazines.

In 2008, Bates was awarded The Lady Cutler Prize for distinguished services to children's Literature.