During WW I she served as a volunteer aide at Hospital for Wounded Officers and received a service medal from the British Red Cross Society.

The same year she joined the Beaufort-Skipton Association of the Girl Guides Australia in Victoria.

In 1947 Fairbairn became the first Federal Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association of Australia.

After she left that post she became the State Commissioner for Girl Guides Victoria, serving until 1963.

[2] In 1955 the Irene Fairbairn Fund was established to provide Guides and Leaders to attend Australian and International Events.