During Hildyard's childhood her mother was the victim of domestic violence from her estranged father, which shaped her passion on the issue in later life.

[2] Hildyard attended Plympton High School and studied a Bachelor of Arts at Flinders University as a mature age student.

[6] An equal pay case before Fair Work Australia was successful in 2012, and the State Government committed to increasing wages between 19 and 41 per cent.

In her maiden speech, Hildyard said her priorities included reducing domestic violence, supporting equal pay for women, maintaining high quality mental health services, and recognising Indigenous Australians in the constitution.

[2] Hildyard lobbied Attorney-General John Rau to include paid domestic violence leave as an industrial right for 120,000 public sector employees.

[13] She joined fellow MPs Nat Cook and Chris Picton, located in Adelaide's southern suburbs, to oppose the government's proposed changes to emergency department services at the Noarlunga Hospital.

[18] Hildyard was appointed to cabinet in September 2017 as Minister for Disabilities;[1] and served in this role until Labor lost the 2018 state election.