[4] Parata attended St Peter's Community School in Passage West and Rockwell College in Cashel.
[17] In the 2015–16 preseason, Parata made his first start for Connacht, featuring against Grenoble, Castres and Munster in friendly matches.
[2] With first choice centre Robbie Henshaw away at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Parata made his competitive debut for Connacht in the opening game of the 2015–16 Pro12, starting against the Newport Gwent Dragons on 4 September 2015.
Parata scored a try in the game away to Russian side Enisei-STM, which took place in the team's Siberian base of Krasnoyarsk.
It was announced in December 2016 that Parata had signed a senior contract with Connacht, becoming a full member of the province's first team squad in the 2016–17 season.
He was one of a number of released Connacht players to make the journey, along with Ciarán Gaffney, Cian Romaine and Jack Dineen.
[23] Parata has represented Ireland at under-age level, though he is also qualified to play for Australia by birth and New Zealand through his father.