She has worked as a freelance journalist and editor in addition to her primary career as playwright and screenwriter.
Rayson was the co-founder of the community theatre group Theatreworks in Melbourne's inner eastern suburb of St Kilda, working there for four years while writing.
Rayson's first major success was Hotel Sorrento, which won several prizes including an AWGIE Award.
The play has become an Australian classic, regularly performed by regional theatre groups, and appearing in university courses and on the high school syllabus.
Her more recent works are Falling from Grace, Scenes from a Separation (written with Andrew Bovell), Competitive Tenderness, Life After George, Inheritance, The Glass Soldier, The Swimming Club and Extinction.