She subsequently undertook further training in special education and taught at schools in Launceston, Devonport, and the Derwent Valley.
Reynolds and her husband moved to England in 1964 and spent a year teaching at schools in London's East End.
She helped establish an OPAL kindergarten for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, working with Indigenous activists Bobbi Sykes and Eddie Mabo.
During the Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, Reynolds helped establish a branch of the anti-conscription organisation Save Our Sons and was active in the Townsville Peace Committee.
After the election she "publicly urged each faction to include a woman among their ministerial nominees, risking charges of self-interest and the antagonism of many of her colleagues".
[1] Reynolds opted not to seek re-election to the ministry after the 1990 election, citing health reasons, and was replaced in both her portfolios by her left-faction colleague Wendy Fatin.
[2] She was an assertive backbencher, joining Bruce Childs and John Coates in abstaining in the vote on Australian participation in the Gulf War in 1991.
In the Senate she spoke frequently on Indigenous affairs and served as the ALP government's representative on the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation from 1991 to 1996.
[1] After leaving parliament Reynolds served as chair of the Commonwealth Human Rights International Advisory Commission from 1999 to 2005 and as president of the United Nations Association of Australia from 2000 to 2005.
[1] As of 2023[update] Reynolds was president of the Australian branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.