Balme studied for an undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Western Australia, graduating in 1979.

[1] Balme worked on cave sites in south west Australia for the Western Australian Museum and became interested in archaeology.

[1] Her research focuses on early Indigenous groups in Australia, gendered social organisation, and the discipline of archaeology.

[5] As of 2020 Balme, working alongside Sue O'Connor, is researching Rock art in Australia with a particular focus on carvings (also called dendroglyphs) on Boab trees in the Kimberley Region and in the Tanami Desert.

[6] In this study the pair discuss the history of research into this trees as well as present a recent survey; in the Kimberley they worked closely with Nyigina and Mangala traditional owners.