Parker took her first degree in Asian Studies[1] and her doctorate at the Australian National University[2] before undertaking post doctoral research in Indonesia while employed by that university's Research School of Asian and Pacific Studies.

Her work in Indonesia focussed on the island of Bali where she looked at education, gender issues and fertility.

[3] In 1989 she published her thesis concerning the village of Brassika in southern Bali as it was absorbed into the nation of Indonesia.

[4] Parker's work has been concerned with gender but she notes that the Western ideal of women striving for autonomy is not suited to Indonesian culture.

[1] Parker lead a team who published several studies and the book Creating Multicultural Citizens: A Portrayal of Contemporary Indonesian Education in 2013.