She was educated at Misses Lucy and Florence Tilley's Hardwicke House Ladies' College and, then became a governess to the Standley family at Mount Wudinna Station on the Eyre Peninsula.
[4] Standley was considered unique in her belief that "[a]ll children have essentially the same heart, the same natures" and that, her students of all 'types' were "quite up to average, and, in fact, one or two were more than ordinarily bright".
[6][7] Standley and Smith worked together closely at the Bungalow, behind the Stuart Arms Hotel, for many years until, in November 1928, the school were moved out of town to what is now the Jay Creek Settlement.
[8] By the time of this move Standley was in poor health and had wanted to retire in January 1929, her 60th birthday, but was convinced to remain until a suitable replacement could be found.
[3] This decision as reinforced when, in January 1929, she was reprimended by the Chief Protector Charles Herbert Noblet for traveling to Alice Springs without first asking his permission.
Her colleague Topsy Smith received no such recognition [3] Ida Standley died on 29 May 1948 at Manly in Sydney and was buried, with catholic rites, at Frenchs Forest.